If you thought The Masked Singer was bonkers, prepare yourself – as spin-off The Masked Dancer takes the guessing game to a whole new level.
The hit ITV competition is back, with judges Davina McCall, Oti Mabuse, Mo Gilligan and Jonathan Ross.
But this time they have to deduce which famous person is behind the mask, purely from their dance moves.
Executive producers Dan Nettleton and Derek McLean, who were responsible for The Masked Singer, say the new series is their most bonkers yet.
Dan said: “There are moments when your jaw will be on the floor at how crazy this show is.”
Here the pair explain how the wild show works…
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On set secrets
Despite having more movement in these costumes, there was an added risk of accidents in The Masked Dancer.
Derek says: “It’s so much easier to get injured dancing. There was a moment when we thought someone had injured themselves and we were worried.
“But luckily it was just a strain and after a bit of ice, they were back on and off they went. We had to be really careful about that.”
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On the panel’s chemistry, Dan and Derek say new judge Oti has slotted into the show seamlessly. Derek says: “Oti as the dance expert came in and was brilliant. She’s worked with so many stars and knows dancing so well.
“Having Oti on the panel really made a difference. She came into her own really quickly.”
But Dan reveals Davina, Oti, Jonathan and Mo had to be told to be quiet when they were joking around during takes.
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“They get on too well,” he jokes. “We had to tell them off! They do not shush.
“They get on like a house on fire and that reflects so well on screen.”
The costumes
There’s no way any celebrity would be able to dance in the costumes on The Masked Singer, so physicality had to be taken into account.
Producers didn’t want to lose the essence of the show’s incredible costumes, so designs were created especially.
Dan says: “We didn’t compromise, we think we’ve got the best Masked Dancer costumes in the world.
“These people have now got to dance, they’re going to sweat, they’re going to need to have better vision, they’ve got to be able to have physicality.
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“None of that matters on Singer so we had to make sure we stripped back in terms of the heaviness but we didn’t want to compromise on the bonkers nature of those costumes. That was a rethink as well.”
Derek adds: “We appreciate how gruelling it is to do these really complicated and challenging dances in heavy costumes.”
The inspiration for Rubber Chicken came from the celebrity’s audition.
Derek says: “One of the people on their audition tape in the dance it looked like they were doing a chicken, I said to Dan that will be funny we could have a chicken.”
The dances
Dances were choreographed by the show’s creative director, who worked tirelessly.
Dan and Derek emphasise that just because some of the costumes are silly, does not mean the dances are not taken seriously.
“We had a big debate about whether we should have some funny dances in there and whether we should be silly, rather than be serious about it,” Derek says.
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“We struck a really good medium, I would say everyone who takes part in the show really put the effort in and put on a good show. None of the performers are doing it as a joke. “Some of the costumes are funny but they’re putting the time in.”
Viewers will see Charleston-style dances and contemporary.
“When the celebs are revealed, you will not believe the person who did the amazing things you see in costume,” says Derek.
*The Masked Dancer starts tonight at 7pm on ITV and ITV Hub
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/masked-dancers-backstage-secrets-glitzy-24209306