ITV has made a significant, last-minute change to the launch episode of The Masked Singer UK's seventh series, removing one contestant's performance entirely following the devastating fire in Switzerland.
Last-Minute Schedule Change
The new series was due to begin at 6:30pm on Friday, January 3, 2026, with host Joel Dommett and panellists Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, and Mo Gilligan all returning. However, the episode was broadcast at 6:40pm, cut short by ten minutes, after the channel decided to pull the debut of the character Red Panda.
An ITV spokesperson confirmed to Metro that the decision was taken "in light of the tragic events in Switzerland". They stated the removal was due to "potential insensitivities within the theme and lyrics of the song" Red Panda was set to perform. The celebrity inside the costume will now make their first appearance in the coming weeks.
The Swiss Ski Resort Tragedy
The move is a direct response to a catastrophic fire that broke out at the Le Constellation bar in a Swiss ski resort in the early hours of New Year's Day. The blaze, which started around 1:30am, resulted in 40 fatalities and 119 injuries, many of them serious.
Police commander Frederic Gisler of the Valais region confirmed the nationalities of many of the injured, which included:
- 71 Swiss nationals
- 14 French citizens
- 11 Italians
- Citizens of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland
Authorities have so far identified and returned four victims to their families: two Swiss women aged 21 and 16, and two Swiss men aged 18 and 16.
Investigation and Fallout
As mourners leave flowers and candles near the scene and attend services at the nearby Church of Montana-Station, a major investigation is underway. Authorities are examining whether soundproofing material on the venue's ceiling met regulations, and will review other safety measures like fire extinguishers and escape routes.
The bar's managers, Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica, are under criminal investigation for charges including negligent homicide and causing fire by negligence. They were interviewed by Swiss authorities on Friday. Mr Moretti, 49, has insisted that "everything was done according to the rules" during the bar's six-month transformation into a night venue.
While ITV has not revealed the song Red Panda was due to perform, the character's costume is notably a firefighter's uniform covered in burn marks, adding a further layer of sensitivity to the decision. The broadcaster has assured viewers they will see Red Panda's performance later in the series.
