Celebrity in ‘Ship’ Costume Stuns with Moody Cover of Bastille’s ‘Pompeii’ in ‘The Masked Singer’ First Look

The latest season of “The Masked Singer” is gearing up to launch this month, and Variety has given us a sneak peek at the exciting debut. The first episode, set to air on Wednesday, September 25th on Fox, will showcase a performance by “Ship,” who will deliver a hauntingly slow rendition of Bastille’s “Pompeii.” In addition to “Ship,” the show will reveal two new costumes: “Leaf Sheep” and “Woodpecker,” joining the previously announced “Chess Piece.”

This season introduces a fresh twist: clues will be integrated into costumes, song selections, and on-stage performances, enhancing the mystery. However, each of the fifteen celebrity contestants will be supported by a “celebrity Masked Ambassador,” a role filled by former participants like Dick Van Dyke (Gnome from Season 9), Jewel (Queen of Hearts from Season 6), Ne-Yo (Cow from Season 10), and DeMarcus Ware (Koala from Season 11).

Season 12 promises a variety of themed episodes, including tributes to Barbie for her 65th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of “Footloose.” Miley Cyrus will also be honored with a special episode dedicated to her music. New themes for the season include “Who Are You Fest,” celebrating festival lineups, “Sports Night,” and “60’s Night,” alongside returning favorites like “Soundtrack of My Life” and “Thanksgiving Night.”

Returning to the panel are Ken Jeong, Rita Ora, Robin Thicke, and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, with Nick Cannon back as host. The show, which has consistently ranked as Fox’s top unscripted series, averaged a 0.6 rating among adults 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers across platforms in the current broadcast season.

The series, adapted from the South Korean format by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp., is produced by Fox Alternative Entertainment with Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis, and Cannon serving as executive producers, with Seitchik as showrunner.