Masked Singer judge Rita Ora has been reportedly snubbed for a similar ITV series called The Masked Dancer after breaking lockdown rules.
The Masked Singer spin-off has been ordered as a quick turnaround replacement for Britain's Got Talent and is set to feature all the other regulars - Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan plus presenter Joel Dommett.
However, bosses have been said to be targeting Strictly Come Dancing favourite Oti Mabuse as the fourth judge to replace Rita in the lineup, The Mirror reports.
Rita repeatedly apologised for throwing a lavish birthday party in Notting Hill to celebrate her 30th birthday in lockdown. It later emerged she should have been self-isolating at the time, having just returned from Egypt where she performed a private gig at a five-star hotel for a six-figure sum.
It is hoped that potential replacement Oti, 30, the only strictly pro to have won the competition for two years running, will bring some much-needed dance expertise to the line-up. One insider said: “Viewers have been watching Rita on Saturday nights for weeks, but the Masked Singer was recorded way before her birthday bash at the end of November.
"Such a lot of effort goes into keeping the talent and crew safe while making it – many people felt let down by the way Rita behaved. She has not done herself any favours.” The Masked Singer, which ends on Saturday, was filmed over eight days in September.
The Masked Dancer has already proved to be a hit in the US, where it is screened by Fox.
Davina, Wossy and Mo are thought to have agreed to take part in the UK version, which ITV bosses plan to strip across the week in May - when the BGT live finals normally air.
BGT was scrapped for 2021 when it became clear that holding the auditions safely was not going to be possible within the guidelines. According to government guidelines Rita should have stayed indoors for 14 days on her return to the UK.
She instead went to her own party at the Casa Cruz restaurant in London's trendy Notting Hill, attended by pals including Cara and Poppy Delevingne.
At the time, gatherings of more than six people indoors were banned, while restaurants were closed apart from for takeaways. —Hulldailymail
