Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love The Masked Singer? From the crazy characters and outrageous costumes to the secret celebrities and surprisingly good singing, the show’s got it all.

It wouldn’t be as good as it is without the element of surprise and the crew work tirelessly to keep as much as what goes on behind the scenes under wraps.

But we’ve been playing detective here at PlayOJO and after doing some digging, we’ve found out some juicy facts about the show.

So strap yourself in and prepare for The Masked Singer to be unmasked!

Here are your Masked Singer facts:

#1

Singer and actress Joss Stone stormed to victory in series 2, disguised as her alter-ego, Sausage. While most viewers likely had hot dog buns on their mind during her performances, there was actually a bun in the oven as the costume hid the fact that she was heavily pregnant during the show’s recording.

#2

The UK version of The Masked Singer is the best thing since sliced bread, right? Well, it’s not the original version as the show actually started in South Korea. There are now editions of the contest in more than 40 countries across the globe, including Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

The German Masked Singer costumes are psychedelic, to say the least

#3

The crazy costumes have been donned by countless stars but few of them will have a contact book as exclusive as Marina Toybina, who creates all of the show’s outfits. The Emmy Award winner has previously designed outfits for Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. Talk about well connected!

#4

The singers’ identities are top secret, obviously, and even MI6 would be impressed at how seriously the show takes it. Around 250 members of production staff are involved in the running of the competition, but only 6 of them are aware of who is behind each mask. In fact, the crew members in the know wear special T-shirts to let the singers know they’re safe to speak to them.

#5

It’s not just the singers who dazzle us with their stunning outfits – the judges also dress to impress for the recordings – but it seems they favour comfort over style. Jonathan Ross has revealed that fellow judge Rita Ora ditches the high heels for her Ugg boots as soon as her feet are under the desk and out of shot!

There’s nothing like a comfy pair of Uggs, is there Rita?

#6

You might want to put the kettle on and take a seat for this next one because we’re about to break the TV illusion. Ready? Before being unmasked, the cameras cut and the celebrities go backstage to get their hair and make-up fixed. And fair enough, it can get pretty hot and sweaty under those costumes!

#7

Patsy Palmer is best known for screaming ‘RICKY!’ across Albert Square in her role as Bianca in Eastenders. But the actress barely got the chance to slip her catchphrase into her performances as Butterfly as she made history by becoming the first act to be eliminated back in the first series.

#8

Life can be lonely for the contestants backstage! They’re not allowed to interact with one another as they can’t know who they’re competing against and they also rehearse in separate, top secret locations, to avoid bumping into each other.

#9

Comedian Mo Gilligan joined the judging panel for the second series, guessing the celebrities’ identities alongside Davina McCall, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross. And the regular judges were helped by a guest panelist for the final few episodes of the series, with superfan Alan Carr becoming the show’s first additional panelist for the quarter-final.

Superfan Alan Carr fanned his way to the quarter-final panel

#10

It’s not just the audience that have to sign NDAs. If contestants tell any friends or family that they’re on the show, they also need to sign one, and they’re required to wear masks and costumes to hide their identity if they visit the set.

#11

“Take it off! Take it off!” The show’s catchphrase has become iconic, with the audience and judges screaming it before each unmasking. But before each singer’s identity is revealed, filming is stopped and the audience are asked to leave. The unmasking takes place in front of a much smaller crowd in order to maximise the secrecy.

#12

It’s not only the celebrities that get the full James Bond treatment. All audience members sign a non-disclosure agreement before the recording begins and they’re also banned from bringing any electronic devices inside. Won’t somebody think of the Instagram stories?!

#13

Recordings of the show can sometimes take up to 12 hours and, understandably, the celebrities have incredibly busy schedules. In fact, they’re so busy that sometimes they require stand-ins to take their place in their costumes while filming the clues section. But don’t worry – they’re always present in the studio!

Reckon you know your Viking from your Grandfather Clock? Now you’ve got the facts, you can put your knowledge to the test and take part in our live quiz on Wednesday 2nd June at 7pm on our Facebook page.

Will you be our champion? Or will you be unmasked? Take on our 15 quiz questions for the chance to win exclusive prizes, including The Masked Singer merchandise, Free Spins and Bingo tickets.

Good luck!

Harry

Harry is a copywriter at PlayOJO, specialising in bingo and with more than six years’ experience in the sports and gaming industries. When he’s not crafting catchy copy he can be found watching football, fussing over his cat or being way too competitive in a pub quiz.