Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson has revealed the extraordinary lengths ITV goes to in order to protect the identities of contestants on The Masked Singer, suggesting the show's security measures could teach MI5 a thing or two. Johnson, who appeared as Pharaoh in the first series, described the production as run like a 'secret underground organisation'.
Contestants are assigned codenames for hotel bookings and travel to the London set, and must wear helmets or visors with signs reading 'DON'T SPEAK TO ME' backstage. Johnson, 71, said: 'I was home secretary in charge of MI5 and I always thought the producers could teach the security services a thing or two about staying incognito.'
The secrecy extends to costume designers, who only know the identity of the celebrity they are outfitting. A one-way system behind the scenes and the removal of most of the studio audience before unmaskings help preserve the surprise. Programmes are recorded months in advance, with each contestant having their own dedicated team.
Johnson, who was knocked out in the second round by Teddy Sheringham, said he told his wife but not his children until the night the episode aired. He recalled barely being able to see out of his elaborate Pharaoh costume, which restricted his vision to straight ahead.
The third series of The Masked Singer, hosted by Joel Dommett, features 12 new characters including Chandelier, Bagpipes, and Robobunny. The show's finale last series attracted over 10 million viewers.
