The Masked Singer is a Greekreality singing competition television series that premiered onSkai TV on 31 March 2022.[1] It is part of theMasked Singer franchise which began in South Korea and features celebrities singing songs while wearing head-to-toe costumes and face masks concealing their identities. The show is hosted bySakis Rouvas, the program employs panelists who guess the celebrities' identities by interpreting clues provided to them throughout each season. Elisavet Konstantinidou, Thodoris Marantinis,Nikos Moutsinas andAthina Oikonomakou appear in each episode and vote alongside an audience for their favorite singer after all perform. The least popular is eliminated, taking off their mask to reveal their identity.[2][3] The first season ended on 2 July 2022 with actorRenos Haralambidis coming in first as "Minotavros" and singerSarbel coming in second as "Moro".
To prevent their identities from being revealed before each prerecorded episode is broadcast, the program makes extensive use of code names, disguises,non-disclosure agreements, and a team of security guards.
The show features a group of celebrity contestants. In a typical episode, eight contestants each sing a 90-secondcover for panelists and an audience anonymously in costume. Hints to their identities are given before and occasionally after each performs. The perennial format is a taped interview with a celebrity's electronically masked voice narrating a video showing cryptic allusions to what they are known for. After performances, and before an elimination, the panelists are given time to speculate each singer's identity out loud and write comments in note binders. They may ask questions and the host may offer additional clues. After performances conclude, the audience and panelists vote for their favorite singer using an electronic device. The least popular contestant then takes off their mask to reveal their identity.[4]
The broadcast format started inSouth Korea in 2015 asKing of Mask Singer. In 2019, it was rumored thatSkai TV would air inGreece the format ofMasked Singer, that have been aired also in Asia, the United States and lot of other countries.[5] In November 2019, it was announced that Skai TV would broadcast the show in 2020.[6] The makers of Skai TV are in feverish preparations, as they are preparing to air not one, but two talent shows when 2021 arrives. The reason of course isHouse of Fame andThe Masked Singer. But at the end of the 2020-2021 television season, Skai TV did not airThe Masked Singer, but it was announced that would begin airing in 2021-2022 television season.[7] It was announced that Skai TV wants that the show to begin air in February 2022.[8] This particular project was due to air two years ago and in March 2022 the first trailer was seen.[9]
Several artists were rumored to be part of the panel once Skai TV announced the show. Model Iliana Papageorgiou was rumored as the host of the show, but Skai TV denied the agreement.[10] Then Skai TV announced the singerSakis Rouvas as the presenter of the show.[11]
It was rumored that singer Harry Varthakouris has already been booked to be on the show as a panelist, as he was already a member of Skai's staff due toBig Brother, while discussions were well underway with TV presenter and actorNikos Moutsinas, who is also a member of the station's staff, as well as with singerTamta,[12] singerEleni Foureira,[13]Giorgos Tsalikis[14] andPhoebus[15] On 21 March 2022, Skai TV announced that the panel would be actress Elisavet Konstantinidou, singer and songwriter Thodoris Marantinis, TV presenter and actor Nikos Moutsinas and actressAthina Oikonomakou.[16]
In the 10th episode,Katerina Stikoudi was a guest and sang as the Skiachtro, she was immediately unmasked after her performance. For the rest of the episode she was the guest panelist.[17]
