Korea’s MBC prepares to put on Masked Singer spin-off Masked Talent

The Masked Singer has been adapted around the world (US version pictured)

Korean pubcaster MBC has commissioned a spin-off from hit singing competition format The Masked Singer in which contestants will display their talent while masked.

Co-developed by MBC and French producer Herve Hubert, The Masked Talent contestants will be disguised in masks and costumes as they perform in front of a panel of four judges.

If the contestant fails to impress, they will be forced to remove their mask and reveal their identity, while the winner will conceal who they are until the end of the show.

The two-episode special has begun production and is due to premiere in September. Unlike The Masked Singer, the format is not focused on celebrities and is open to members of the public.

Park Jeong-Kyu, chief producer of The Masked Singer and The Masked Talent, said: “Anyone can apply as a contestant for The Masked Talent. The purpose of the show is to present the audience with the unique experience to become the masked hero and perform their showmanship. With prejudice and bias out of the way, the contestants will be judged solely by their genuine voice and talent.”

The Masked Singer debuted on MBC in 2015 as King of Mask Singer. So far, the format has been sold into more than 50 countries worldwide, including the US on Fox and the UK on ITV.