The Masked Singer star removed from episode minutes before launch after Switzerland tragedy

The Masked Singer UK made changes to its 2026 launch episode hours before it was due to air.

Tonight, the ITV guessing game launched its seventh series, with Joel Dommett returning as host, while Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, and Mo Gilligan sit on the panel.

In total, 12 new characters will take part this season, but one of them was noticeably absent from the first episode.

Red Panda was due to take to the stage tonight, joining Can of Worms, Disc Jockey, Gargoyle, Moth, and Sloth, plus Goldfish, who fronted the first-ever Masked Singer house band.

However, ITV has confirmed to Metro that the celebrity was temporarily removed following events in Switzerland this week.

An ITV spokesperson said: ‘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.

‘Viewers will get to see Red Panda perform in the coming weeks.’

The statement was issued after fans noticed tonight’s episode had been cut down by 10 minutes, beginning at 6:40pm instead of the originally slated 6:30pm.

Once the episode began, Red Panda could be seen on stage in various moments with the other contestants, but any mentions of them by Joel had been cut.

Taking to X, some viewers were confused, given how the message was not actually displayed on screens to explain what had changed.

Others said it was ‘understandable’ why ITV made the choice.

It is currently unknown what Red Panda’s song was or what their staging involved.

However, their costume does include a firefighter’s uniform and helmet with flames and a bucket symbol. Their overalls are also covered in burn marks.

Earlier this week, a New Year’s party ended in devastation as a fire at a Swiss ski resort killed at least 40 people and injured 119 others. Many of their injuries are serious.

The blaze broke out at around 1:30am at the Le Constellation bar, which is popular with tourists.

Its cause was sparklers that had been lit and placed inside champagne bottles in the basement, which made the ceiling catch fire.

Police have so far identified four victims, with the bodies of two Swiss women aged 21 and 16 and two Swiss men aged 18 and 16 having been returned to their families.

Among the injured were 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, and 11 Italians, along with citizens of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland, according to Frederic Gisler, police commander of the Valais region.

A teenage girl who went to school in the UK is also among those still missing.

As mourners pay their respects by leaving flowers and candles in impromptu memorials near the scene and pray for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station, an investigation is underway.

Authorities are planning to look into whether the material on the ceiling of the venue that was designed to muffle sound conformed with regulations.

Officials have added that they would look at other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.

Meanwhile, the managers of the bar are under criminal investigation on charges including negligent homicide.

Jacques Moretti and his wife, Jessica, are further suspected of negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence.

They were interviewed by Swiss authorities on Friday.

Mr Moretti insists they did not break any safety rules, having spent six months transforming the bar into a nighttime venue.

‘Everything was done according to the rules,’ the 49-year-old told a Swiss-French media outlet.

The Masked Singer airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

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