The highly-anticipated return of ITV's The Masked Singer was met with a wave of frustration from viewers on Saturday night, as fans took to social media to voice the same complaint just minutes into the new series.
A New Series with a New Format
The hit guessing game made its comeback for a seventh season on Saturday 3rd January 2026, promising more unmaskings and some tweaks to its familiar format. The panel, consisting of Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, and Maya Jama, returned to deduce the celebrities behind the elaborate costumes.
Host Joel Dommett kicked off the series by announcing a first in the show's history: the initial two episodes would be headlined by The Masked Singer Band. The first performer, Goldfish, was set to perform with their band 'No Trout', with Emperor Penguin and the Antarctic Funkeys scheduled to follow on Sunday 4th January.
Viewers' Patience Wears Thin
However, before the first masked character was properly introduced, the show featured an extended opening segment which included a musical moment from panellist Mo Gilligan. This delay in getting to the main action did not sit well with the audience at home.
Within minutes, viewers flooded X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their irritation at the show's slow pace. The consensus was clear: they wanted the show to get on with the singing and guessing.
Social Media Erupts with Criticism
The reaction online was swift and pointed. One exasperated viewer wrote, "For god's sake, get on with it!" Another echoed the sentiment, criticising the "American-esque" style of the opening and bluntly stating, "FFS - this is terrible... just get on with the show."
Others highlighted the duration of the preamble, with one noting there had been "10 minutes of guff before it even starts." The segment featuring Mo Gilligan's singing was singled out as particularly awkward, with a viewer simply posting, "Oh god Mo this is so cringe."
The strong reaction underscores the high expectations for the popular Saturday night entertainment show, with fans eager for the mystery and music that defines the programme, rather than what they perceived as filler content.
