TV presenter Denise Van Outen and JLS frontman Aston Merrygold have been announced as judges for The Masked Singer Live arena tour which is heading to Newcastle this spring.
The pair are the first names to be revealed for the celebrity panel of judges who will join host Joel Dommett and the mystery singers due to perform in the stage version of the ITV guessing game sensation.
Singer and actress Van Outen herself took part in the first series of The Masked Singer in 2020, reaching the semi-finals as the voice behind the Fox, while Merrygold was part of its next series - commissioned when the bizarre mask-reveal drama became an instant surprise hit - and he took third place as Robin.
Read more: ticket details for The Masked Singer Live in Newcastle
The names of more celebrity judges will be revealed in the run-up to the spring start of the 10-show tour - the first live take on the TV series - which will stop off at Newcastle's Utilita Arena on April 8.
Van Outen, who earlier this year announced her split from her partner and fellow Celebrity Gogglebox co-star Eddie Boxshall, said: "I can't wait for April."
She said: “I am so excited to be a judge on The Masked Singer Live tour.
"I’m sure we’re going to be thrilled by an incredible line-up of mystery celebrities bringing electrifying live performances to audiences up and down the country. "
She added: "This is a one of a kind show that is fun, infectious and full of surprises for all the family!”
And Merrygold thought the idea for the tour is "absolutely brilliant".
He said: "The show is not about judgment, it’s about having fun and keeping the audiences guessing.
"I am so happy to be joining the panel. Being on other side of the desk will be exhilarating in a completely different way but still with all the excitement and drama of the TV series.
"I can’t wait to see everyone around the UK at the shows - bring it on!”
The Newcastle audience at the May show will be able to play a part in guessing the identity of the mystery celebrity singers before they are unmasked at the end of the night.
Joel Dommett, who said The Masked Singer set-up will be a bigger than ever format, added: "I don’t know their identities, so I’ll be guessing along with the arena audiences."
For tickets to the tour dates see Ticketmaster here.
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