The Masked Singer announces this BIG twist to the clues for series two

The Masked Singer Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross in their finery
(Image credit: ITV)

The nation's favourite guessing game is about to get even harder...

The Masked Singer is making its long-awaited return to our screens on Boxing Day - but series two will come with a twist.

The much-loved show that sees celebrities dressing up in lavish costumes and singing in disguise while we try to guess their identity is back with a second series.

The Masked Singer costumes Alien, Robin, Badger, Swan, Dragon and Sausage

Alien, Robin, Badger, Swan, Dragon and Sausage are ready to take the stage (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: ITV)

But if you thought it was hard enough to work out who was under the masks in January, then you're in for a challenge.

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Making it tricky 

Host Joel Dommett has told the press: "The clue packages are such harder this time round, they really throw you off your scent.

"I think last year they went a little easier as people were getting a sense of the show.

The Masked Singer costumes Viking, Blob, Harlequin, Bushbaby, Grandfather Clock and Seahorse

Meet Viking, Blob, Harlequin, Bushbaby, Grandfather Clock and Seahorse (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: ITV)

"I will say it's much harder when you're in the studio than when you're at home and you've got Google.

"This year there's certainly a couple of people that had everyone thrown off right until the end."

Keeping the secret

Joel has also admitted that he doesn't even tell his wife who is behind the costumes ahead of the show airing...

"I thought I'd really struggle keeping it a secret, and genuinely my tactic of keeping the secret is to immediately forget. Then I watch it and I'm like 'oh my God - yeah!'

The Masked Singer Mo Gilligan poses alongside Masked Singers Blob and Grandfather Clock

Newcomer Mo Gilligan is joining the panel for series two (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: ITV)

"I don't tell anyone, I don't even tell my wife. I get home and she's like 'who was it?' and I just say 'not telling you!' and then it not in my brain at all."

Panellists Davina McCall, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross are all back for the new series.

But with Ken Jeong unable to them due to Covid travel restrictions, they are now joined by comedian Mo Gilligan.

Last year saw costumes like Duck, Fox, Daisy, Queen Bee, Octopus and Unicorn take to the stage, and this new series will see even more outrageous costumes on the show.

The Masked Singer Queen Bee

Nicola Roberts - AKA Queen Bee - won the first series of The Masked Singer (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: ITV)

The first episode of series 2 will have the panellists trying to guess which famous faces are behind the masks of Alien, Badger, Robin, Swan, Dragon and Sausage.

The second episode will feature Viking, Blob, Harlequin, Bushbaby, Grandfather Clock and Seahorse.

The Masked Singer series two will start on Boxing Day on ITV at 7pm.

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.