Maya Jama has admitted to experiencing initial nerves as she steps onto the panel of ITV's popular reality competition, The Masked Singer UK. Making her debut on January 4, 2025, she replaces former judge Rita Ora, teaming up with returning celebrity detectives Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, and Mo Gilligan. The four will work together to guess the identities of disguised celebrities as they perform for the studio audience and viewers at home.
During a recent pre-recorded chat on Good Morning Britain, Maya candidly shared her experience so far, acknowledging, "I'm going to be honest. I started off a little shaky and then I managed to get one in the bag already." Her admission speaks to the pressures of stepping onto such a high-profile platform.
Rich Arnold, the showbiz editor of Good Morning Britain, also tapped the other panellists to gauge how they grapple with the show's challenges. Host Joel Dommett weighed in, indicating he sometimes picks up clues just by getting closer to contestants. "Sometimes, every now and then when the light hits them the right way I'm going to see a nose," he teased, eliciting surprise from Davina, who exclaimed, "Hang on, we didn't knowthat!" Meanwhile, Jonathan Ross mentioned the difficulty judges might face: "The clues are too hard sometimes – we even ask people when the mask is off, 'What did this clue mean?' and they respond, 'I don't know.'"
Previous winners of The Masked Singer UK include notable acts such as McFly's Danny Jones, who was unmasked as Piranha, alongside Busted's Charlie Simpson as Rhino and Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts as Queen Bee.
Joel Dommett expressed anticipation for the series, stating, "It's getting weirder. I think it's getting odder and odder. And if you thought it was weird before, it's getting even more strange." This uniquely quirky nature has captivated audiences since the show's inception. The latest season promises unexpected twists, including one aired incident where a contestant allegedly stormed off stage after being eliminated. Joel humorously added, "There's something hilarious about seeing someone in a massive costume storm off. Though they might not show it, I know it was real and that's amazing!"
Jama's entrance has already been described as seamless by Joel, attributing her easy transition to what he refers to as her 'ridiculous lifestyle.' "She lives with all these cool, beautiful people and understands the niche we're working within. It’s so varied compared to what me and Jonathan know," he quipped, adding, "Maya has slotted perfectly here. When she's with us, it feels completely different than other seasons."
It appears Joel had his share of blunders as well. He humorously recounted how he sang one of Stormzy's songs during early recordings, unaware of the awkwardness it presented for Jama, who recently ended her high-profile relationship with the rapper. "I felt really bad about it, especially when I realized she had just broken up with him. Maya’s great – she laughed it off!"
Fans are thrilled not only to see Jama on the panel but also to anticipate the various themed weeks lined up, such as holiday specials and superhero episodes. Interestingly, the series will include the debut of what’s been referred to as the 'Giant Joel' costume, which has appeared to be creating waves, described by Joel as "offensive" and something kids would find scary.
ITV's Head of Entertainment & Daytime Commissioning, Katie Rawcliffe, shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming season, noting, "The Masked Singer is back and promises to kick off 2025 with a bang. TV's favourite guessing game welcomes the sensational Maya Jama who will be joining our expert detectives."
Meanwhile, the confirmation of Maya's involvement stirred excitement within the talent pool featured over the years, including well-known personalities like Dionne Warwick, NeYo, and Michael Owen. Particularly notable is the increased emphasis on maintaining the secret identities of the participants with even stronger elements of suspense bound to keep viewers guessing throughout.
Episodes have drawn viewership tallies reaching as high as 37 million, proving the show's formula is still engaging audiences across various demographics. With the start of the new year, all eyes are on the returning cast members and new elements introduced to the series, particularly with the panel's chemistry and how they evolve together.
So as fans gear up for the new season, the excitement around the debut of Maya Jama on The Masked Singer UK marks not just the beginning of another chapter for the show but also opens the door to fresh celebrity disguises and laughter as audiences participate from their living rooms, guessing who the celebrities might be this time around.