Rita Ora has been 'snubbed' by The Masked Singer bosses, with her being replaced on the panel for its new spin-off show.
After lots of speculation, ITV rubber stamped news of new show The Masked Dancer on Thursday morning, after it proved to be a big success in America.
Rita's fellow Masked Singer panelists Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Davina McCall have all been invited back to be judges for The Masked Dancer, which will air in late spring, but Rita has been replaced by Strictly champion Oti Mabuse, who has TV judging experience from her stint as a captain on BBC's The Greatest Dancer.
On landing the role, Oti said: "I’m so thrilled and honoured to be joining the panel on The Masked Dancer. I’m a huge fan of The Masked Singer and I loved the US Masked Dancer so I just can’t wait to start on this show.
"As a dancer I will be watching the dancers intently looking for clues - it’s going to be so much fun!!!"
Last month it was reported that RIP and Anywhere singer Rita had been axed by ITV bosses after her major lockdown rule break which saw her host a 30th party at a London restaurant at the end of November, when restrictions were still very much in force.
An insider told The Mirror: "Viewers have been watching Rita on Saturday nights for weeks, but the Masked Singer was recorded way before her birthday bash at the end of November.
"Such a lot of effort goes into keeping the talent and crew safe while making it – many people felt let down by the way Rita behaved. She has not done herself any favours.”
Masked Singer host Joel Dommett will return to host The Masked Dancer which will see 12 celebrities stepping onto the dancefloor to take on character alter egos as they trip the light fantastic in a bid to wow the panel and confuse with their moves.
Clue packages will accompany every Masked Dancer to help the panel and at home detectives crack the case of who the famous faces behind the masks are.
From ballet to ballroom, salsa to swing and everything in between, the mystery line up will be dancing onto in the coming months after The Masked Singer proved to be a real ratings winner for the second year in a row.
