The Masked Singer UK 2020–21 — A Ranking of the 12 Costumes
By: Raphael Howard
Tags: TV Shows, Game Shows, The Masked Singer

Featuring a singing Sausage and a very lively Grandfather Clock…

A simple yet addictive combination of talent show and guessing game, The Masked Singer has become one of the most successful reality TV formats of the last few years. The show features celebrities performing for a panel of judges whilst disguised in an elaborate costume. The judges try to guess their identity, and the audience votes for which contestants they want to stay in the competition. When a masked contestant is eliminated, their true identity is revealed, with hidden contestants ranging from actors and singers to politicians and social media personalities. The Masked Singer originated in South Korea in 2015, but really became an international phenomenon when the American version premiered in January 2019. Since then, the format has been exported all over Europe and the Americas, with versions in countries ranging from Mexico to Australia. The British version finally arrived in January 2020, with Joel Dommett hosting, and the likes of Johnathan Ross and Davina McCall on the judging panel. Critics were divided over the show, with some impressively harsh reviews, but it proved a ratings hit, and got all of Twitter talking as celebrities ranging from Teddy Sheringham to Katherine Jenkins were revealed as the performers behind each unusual disguise. Unsurprisingly, The Masked Singer UK renewed for a second series, which begins airing on Boxing Day (Saturday 26th)

This series was filmed in September, carefully adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. For the most part, these haven’t affected the show too much. However, comedian Mo Gilligan has joined the judging panel, replacing eccentric Masked Singer USA judge Ken Jeong (who was busy filming the most recent US season, and unable to enter the UK due to travel restrictions), and the two-metre rules mean that there will be less opportunities for close interaction between Joel and the performers. Despite these constraints, the performances will be as memorable as ever, and we can look forward to seeing more than a few famous celebs and musicians showcasing a different side to them beneath all the elaborate headwear and clothing.

However, the highlight of any version of The Masked Singer is the costumes, and the second series of The Masked Singer UK contains 12 eccentric new characters singing for audience votes. The costumes in the first series were hit and miss, with some terrible ones (Tree, Monster) and some excellent ones (Duck, Hedgehog). The designs this season are far stronger. Here is a ranking of the 12 new costumes, from worst to best.

12. Blob

Monster and Alien-based costumes have become a fixture of The Masked Singer, as they allow the costume designers to go all out and create something truly unique and eccentric. However, Blob is one of the least impressive costumes in this category. The Blob is a melty being with too many eyes, and the lack of connection to traditional humanoid or animal imagery feels a bit distancing — it is a little hard to connect to them. The design also feels a bit crude compared to the elaborate and detailed costumes used by other performers, possibly because Blob seems to be a primarily plastic creation in contrast to the impressive fur and textile work on many of their competitors. That said, the Blob costume is far better than some of the costumes from last season — its bright smile is less creepy than Tree or Queen Bee, and its use of eyes attached to the arms give it a range of movement that the Monster costume lacked.

11. Dragon

Costumes in The Masked Singer often have a strong “sporting mascot” element, and this is most clear in the design of the Dragon. In contrast to the enjoyably monstrous dragon design used in The Masked Singer Germany, or the striking East Asian inspired one used in the American version (worn by rap icon Busta Rhymes), this costume is emphasising cuteness — there isn’t a single person in the world who would find it intimidating. However, interviews with the judges and Joel have promised that this dragon breathes real fire, which could be pretty fun to watch. The rainbow belly is also an unusual feature. Dragon is the most child-friendly costume, which isn’t a bad thing, but it feels a little safe compared to some of the more unusual and creative costumes being showcased this season.

10. Seahorse

Like Octopus last year, Seahorse is representing the underwater kingdom. By sheer co-incidence, the most recent series of The Masked Singer USA also featured a seahorse costume, worn by pop star Tori Kelly. In contrast to the more realistic design used in America, this version is more cartoonish, with saucer eyes and translucent wings and collars. It also features plenty of the light-up effects used for Chameleon last year. Chameleon didn’t get very far — can Seahorse showcase more luminous magic? The American interpretation of Seahorse was superior, but this costume seems to have its own charms…

9. Swan

Tall, Graceful and bad-tempered, Swans are one of the most iconic birds in the world, and have frequently inspired The Masked Singer costumes. Whereas most swan costumes have been of the conventional white swan, this version is a Black Swan, possibly inspired by the villainous duplicate swan featured in Swan Lake. The decision to embrace the deadlier side of Swan feels creative, but the design is a little too busy. The main problem is the fact the signature swan feathers have been replaced by ruffled, frilly fabrics which feel a little bit distracting, and ensure that the body of the costume is the most disappointing element. The boots are really impressive though…

8. Badger

Hedgehog was one of the best costumes of the first season, featuring plenty of the expected spikes, some charming steampunk clothing, and a surprisingly posh singing voice provided by comedian and West End star Jason Manford. This year, another fixture of British wildlife gets the Masked Singer treatment with a Badger costume. The head is pleasingly furry and detailed, fitting the endearing image which badgers have acquired from like stories like The Wind In The Willows. However, this Badger wears a simple leather jacket, which suggests a “middle-aged rocker” persona (Hopefully, they will get to show some range and sing slower songs or tunes from different genres). The Badger is much lower down the countdown because of the far higher standard of costumes this year.

7. Robin

It’s pretty appropriate that a series which begins airing on Boxing Day features a classic winter bird in its lineup. The Robin has the red head and feathery torso we would expect, but also has a cool blue jacket and suprisingly strong golden legs. Furthermore, the bird legs and clawed feet work surprisingly well in human proportions. Robin has been confirmed as a male, with the promotion openly using male pronouns, and the bright colours and detailed featherwork suggest he could be quite the showman. Provided his vocals are strong enough, this Robin could stick around long after Christmas…

6. Bush Baby

The Bush Baby is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, so it is pretty surprising to see it in grey and rainy Britain. However, it is wonderfully cute and furry, and will certainly prove popular in the nation which gave us the Compare The Meerket adverts. The baby part is being emphasised with the clothing — a giant yellow Babygro and insect charms around the neck, which allows the costume to show an extra level of personality and cuteness. The numbered blocks printed on the Babygro will also raise curiosity — are they a clue to Bush Baby’s identity?

5. Harlequin

Putting the mask into The Masked Singer, Harlequin represents a more mysterious take on the traditional Jester. The Venetian costume ball imagery is enhanced by a colourful gold and red mask and a gigantic hooped skirt that stands out from the rest of the competition and makes it a lot easier to socially distance. Like Queen Bee last year, this costume draws heavily on historical styles to seem powerful and authoritative, but the use of an expressive traditional mask instead of a porcelain face makes it a good deal less creepy.

4. Grandfather Clock.

Grandfather Clock is a relatively unusual concept handled in a pleasingly eccentric fashion. Although the feet are encased in giant blocks, the human aspects are emphasised over the clock ones. This allows Grandfather Clock to demonstrate a full range of movement which many The Masked Singer costumes lack. Furthermore, the little details (such as a pendulum on the shirt) demonstrate how much time and effort went into it. This is the sort of costume that seems a bit boring at first, but soon wins you over with a deeper look. The grey hair, face and moustache suggest an older celebrity with plenty of eccentricity, but limited singing ability. It is almost impossible to predict the success of these costumes when you don’t know who is beneath them, but Grandfather Clock looks like the sort of novelty performer who would usually be unmasked early on. However, we can expect the performances they provide will be quite fun.

3. Viking

Costumes themed around Vikings and Norse mythology are unsurprisingly common in Scandinavian editions of The Masked Singer, but this Viking costume represents a very British take. The costume discards traditional human proportions (with a giant beard coming down to the knees) and is all the more enjoyable for it. Viking also features an impressive horned helmet, though its sword and shield feel like an anticlimax in comparison. Viking looks like they will specialise in loud rock music, but The Masked Singer always features plenty of unexpected song choices, so they are just as likely to sing a tender ballad or two…

2. Alien

It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but the Alien costume demonstrates that the best “fantasy/extra-terrestrial creature” costumes on The Masked Singer are the ones closest to reality. The braided hair and silver dress would not seem out of place on a chart-topping diva, but the blue skin and giant golden eyes embody the classic alien stereotype. Combining the two allows Alien to seem like a seasoned performer who is both confident and imposing — the performer element is emphasized just as much as the alien aspects. Overall, Alien seem like a powerful pop star who could get pretty far…

Sausage

Some of the best Masked Singer costumes around the world are the ones inspired by symbols of national identity and culture. There are few things more intrinsically British than the chip shop, so it’s really fun to see a chip shop-inspired costume on this season of The Masked Singer UK. The Sausage theme conjures up rather phallic implications but surrounding him with a newspaper cone full of chips tones these down and the newspaper clothing features some pretty amusing headlines. The only issue with this costume is the fact that the eyes are a little too wide, but an overly expressive costume is preferable to one with no expressions at all. Sausage is the sort of costume that embodies everything The Masked Singer UK is all about.