The mystery behind the last-minute removal of Red Panda from the launch episode of The Masked Singer UK has finally been clarified by broadcaster ITV. The character made its long-awaited debut during a January 'Spooktacular' episode, which aired in full on January 17, 2026.
The Reason for the Postponement
Red Panda was originally scheduled to perform alongside Can of Worms, Disc Jockey, Gargoyle, Moth, and Sloth in the first episode of the 2026 series, which aired on January 3. However, just minutes before the show began, ITV confirmed the character's absence until further notice.
In a statement, an ITV spokesperson told Metro: '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 referenced tragedy was a devastating fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve. The blaze killed 40 people and injured 116. An investigation is ongoing, with French bar owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti cooperating. They face accusations of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence, but deny breaking safety rules.
The Problematic Performance
Fans who caught the performance on streaming services later uploaded Red Panda's debut to YouTube, revealing why it was deemed inappropriate for the January 3 broadcast. For its intended first song, Red Panda performed The Trammps' 1976 hit 'Disco Inferno'.
The song's lyrics include references to 'burning down', 'exploding', and 'getting hot'. Furthermore, the staging involved smoke machines and numerous dancers wearing firefighters' suits. Red Panda's own costume, an orange uniform covered in stylised burn marks, featured a helmet adorned with flames and a bucket symbol.
For its eventual debut on January 17, Red Panda performed a different song entirely: Meatloaf's 'Bat Out of Hell', showcasing what viewers called impressive vocal abilities.
Viewer Reaction and Celebrity Guesses
After finally seeing Red Panda in action, viewers flooded social media with praise for the 'beyond cute' and 'far too adorable' character, agreeing that the initial postponement was understandable.
The guessing game for the celebrity beneath the mask is in full swing. Audience theories have ranged from Harry and Jamie Redknapp, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Harry Hill, and Bob Mortimer, with many speculating it is 'definitely an older man'. The show's panel—Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, and Mo Gilligan—have suggested names from Duran Duran members to Jeff Brazier.
Red Panda's clue packages have been typically cryptic, featuring baby dummies, a letter to 'Rio Street, Birmingham', golden rocks, and a shopping list with hairspray and pink apples. The character has also spoken of 'scaling new heights' and referenced James Bond's Roger Moore.
With Red Panda yet to be eliminated, the identity remains a mystery. The Masked Singer airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
