The Masked Dancer REVEALED!

The man behind the masks, Tim Simpson, tells TV Times about the challenges of creating the costumes for the new spin-off series

- STEVEN PERKINS

Are you ready to see a Flamingo perform a foxtrot? Or how about a breakdancing Beetroot, or even a street-dancing Squirrel?

These are just some of the treats lined up for ITV’s The Masked Dancer, a new spin-off from hit series The Masked Singer.

Like its sister show, the sevenparter will be hosted by Joel Dommett, with two-time Strictly champion Oti Mabuse joining The Masked Singer panellists Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan to judge the 12 mystery celebrities as they trip the light fantastic.

Here, in an exclusive interview, character designer Tim Simpson – the managing director of Plunge Creations, the company that creates costumes for both shows – shares with TV Times the secrets of the latest wow-factor outfits…

What was your reaction when you first heard about the new show?

When the production company, Bandicoot, phoned me and said, ‘Get your pencil ready, we might need some Masked Dancer costumes’, I thought they were joking! It’s hard enough being inside these costumes when you’re singing and not having to move a lot; I know how hot the performers get and how much being inside masks disorientates them. So this time, the costumes would need to be lighter and simpler, allowing for better vision for the performers.