Fans of ITV's The Masked Singer have at last seen the mystery celebrity inside the Red Panda costume perform, following a last-minute decision to pull their act from the series launch episode earlier this month.
Why Red Panda's Performance Was Pulled
Just hours before the first episode of the new series was due to air, ITV bosses made the sensitive call to remove Red Panda's planned routine. This decision was a direct response to the devastating fire at the Le Constellation bar in Switzerland on New Year's Eve, which killed around 40 people and left hundreds with severe burns.
The broadcaster confirmed the removal was due to concerns over the song choice and staging. The celebrity was set to perform The Trammps' 1976 hit 'Disco Inferno', with dancers reportedly wearing fire-style suits—a combination deemed ill-judged and potentially distressing in light of the recent tragedy.
An ITV spokesperson stated: 'In light of the tragic events in Switzerland, we took the decision to remove Red Panda's performance on The Masked Singer owing to potential insensitivities within the theme and lyrics of the song.'
The Leak and the Long-Awaited Debut
Despite the official removal, Red Panda's week one performance was reportedly leaked online via a catch-up service in Scotland, allowing many viewers to see the unaired 'Disco Inferno' number. The character's introductory video, which featured the cute animal walking around a fire station, also contributed to the sensitivity concerns.
However, on Saturday night, Red Panda officially made their belated debut to the nation. They delivered what was described as a 'killer performance' of Meat Loaf's classic 'Bat Out Of Hell', finally taking to the stage as originally promised.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations
ITV stressed that Red Panda and the celebrity inside the costume remain a part of the 2026 series and will return in upcoming episodes. 'Viewers will get to see Red Panda perform in the coming weeks,' a spokesperson added.
The deadly fire in Switzerland, which prompted the broadcasting caution, occurred when more than 200 young people were crammed inside the popular Valais ski resort bar. Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into how the blaze began in the basement and spread so rapidly.
The bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.
