ITV has made a last-minute edit to its flagship entertainment show, The Masked Singer, pulling a contestant's performance just hours before broadcast. The decision was taken in direct response to the devastating New Year's Eve fire in Switzerland, which claimed the lives of 40 people.
An 'Insensitive' Performance Withdrawn
The mystery celebrity inside the Red Panda costume was due to make their debut on Saturday night's episode of the show's seventh series. However, senior executives intervened to scrap the act entirely after reviewing its planned song and staging.
The performance was set to feature the 1976 hit 'Disco Inferno' by The Trammps, with backing dancers reportedly wearing costumes designed to resemble flames. In the wake of the tragic events in the Swiss Alps, this thematic choice was deemed profoundly ill-judged and potentially distressing for viewers.
An ITV spokesperson confirmed the move, stating: '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 Swiss Tragedy That Prompted the Change
The decision follows the catastrophic fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Valais ski resort in the early hours of New Year's Day. The sudden blaze tore through the packed venue, which was reportedly crammed with over 200 young revellers.
The incident resulted in around 40 fatalities, with hundreds more suffering severe burns. Swiss authorities have since launched a criminal investigation into how the fire began in the basement and spread so rapidly.
The bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under investigation on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.
Red Panda's Future and Series Seven Launch
ITV was keen to stress that the Red Panda character and the celebrity inside are not eliminated from the competition. The broadcaster confirmed they will remain part of the 2026 series and will return to the stage in an upcoming episode. 'Viewers will get to see Red Panda perform in the coming weeks,' the spokesperson added.
The incident overshadowed the launch of the show's seventh series, which introduced a new format twist featuring two separate bands. Goldfish leads a band called 'No Trout', while Emperor Penguin fronts the 'Antarctic Funkeys'.
Host Joel Dommett had previously teased that this season would feature 'the most unmaskings ever', with four reveals scheduled across the first two episodes alone. The new series follows the victory of stage and screen actress Samantha Barks as 'Pufferfish' in the previous run.
The Masked Singer airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
