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ITV to adapt Masked Singer

The Masked Singer has performed strongly in the US

UK broadcaster ITV has commissioned a local version of hit entertainment format The Masked Singer, plus a new programme that combines five rebooted Fremantle gameshow classics within a single series.

ITV has commissioned Argonon Group-owned Scottish indie Bandicoot to produce an eight-part run of the South Korean singing format, which has proven a hit for Fox in the US and elsewhere.

The show, which features musical stars performing in elaborate disguises as judges and viewers attempt to identify them, will be stripped as an event series debuting in 2020.

ITV director of television Kevin Lygo and head of entertainment commissioning Siobhan Greene ordered the show, which will be exec produced by Derek McLean, Daniel Nettleton and Claire Horton.

“Not very often, a show comes along that seems to abandon all the rules – and this is it,” said Greene. “The Masked Singer is original, bold, funny and a proper guessing game that we hope will have the nation hooked. We all loved it from the moment we saw it and are so excited to be bringing it to a UK audience.”

In related news, ITV has greenlit Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow (7×60’), which will bring back classic titles Play Your Cards Right, Take Your Pick, Strike it Lucky, Bullseye and The Price is Right in a single show fronted by comedian and talkshow host Carr.

Talkback, the comedy entertainment label of prodco Fremantle, will produce the series, with Jonno Richards and Leon Wilson exec producing. The commission also includes a Christmas edition of The Price is Right and a Play Your Cards Right celebrity special.

Separately, Hip-hop comedy show Don’t Hate the Playaz, produced by Monkey with Ollie Brack as exec producer, will return to ITV2 this autumn. The series sees two teams made up of comedians, hip-hop legends and celebrity hip-hop lovers battle it out in front of a live audience.

The Stand Up Sketch Show, meanwhile, will return to ITV2 in early 2020. The comedy format features both well-known comedians and emerging talent, each telling a story to a live audience which they then must reconstruct into a sketch. It is produced by Spirit Media, with Matt Campion exec producing.

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