Netflix developing The Masked Singer rival - report
According to The Sun, Netflix is in the process of working on their version of the show - titled Blockheads.
Netflix is reportedly making a bold move in their competition with terrestrial channels by developing a version of The Masked Singer UK.
The programme has been hugely successful for ITV, and sees celebrities sing while dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, with a panel of judges attempting to work out the singer’s secret identity.
According to The Sun, Netflix is in the process of working on their version of the show - titled Blockheads.
As the name suggests, famous faces will wear massive blocks on their heads to disguise their identities, with guessers given clues to try and work out who is under the “block”.
Unlike The Masked Singer, however, there will also be cameras inside the blocks, so that the celebrity’s reaction to guesses being made can be seen by viewers.
A TV insider told the newspaper: “This isn’t just moving further into ITV’s territory with another big entertainment show.
“It’s also trying to capture some of the current desire for guessing games, typified in shows such as The Masked Singer and The Celebrity Traitors.”
The Sun added that Blockheads is being produced by South Shore, which already makes ITV’s shows The Floor and Cooking With the Stars.
The Netflix series also has the benefit of being put together by South Shore, the production company which already makes gameshows The Floor and Cooking With The Stars for ITV.
Reports of the new series come amid Netflix’s ongoing battle to try and emulate the success of the main terrestrial channels’ biggest show.
They’ve had mixed results though, with their version of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! - titled Celebrity Bear Hunt, hosted by Bear Grylls and Holly Willoughby - axed after just one season.
The streaming giant has had more success, however, with poached BBC shows Luther and Peaky Blinders, and a Netflix reboot of Channel 4’s The Inbetweeners is also reported to be in the works.
ITV are sure to be hoping that a new twist on The Masked Singer, with Alan Carr joining the judging panel, will spark even more interest in their hit Saturday night show.
