Former The Voice UK coach Olly Murs is set to join the panel of The Masked Singer UK next season. He’ll be filling in for Rita Ora, who is in turn filling in for Nicole Scherzinger on Season 11 of the show’s U.S. version.
Olly Murs to Fill in for Rita Ora on The Masked Singer UK
Last month, it was announced that The Masked Singer UK panelist Rita Ora would be joining the U.S. panel for Season 11. She’s filling in for Nicole Scherzinger, who is in the UK performing in a West End production of Sunset Boulevard.
According to The Sun, Olly Murs is one of the celebrities filling in for Ora. He’ll sit alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, and Mo Gilligan on the show’s next season. The news comes after Murs was fired from his longtime coaching gig on The Voice UK.
“The booking will be heartening to Olly,” a source told The Sun. “His exit from The Voice came as a shock, so knowing ITV still rate him and want him on the channel will be such a boost. It’s a sign they see him as part of the family and will be considered for future projects.”
Murs has plenty of talent show experience. Not only has he coached on The Voice, but he got his start as a contestant on The X Factor, finishing in second place.
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Ora Will Only Miss Part of the Season
Unlike Scherzinger, who will be sitting out the entire season, Ora will apparently only miss “some episodes” of The Masked Singer UK. And Murs is reportedly not the only celebrity who will be sitting in her chair.”
“I’m gutted to be missing some episodes,” Ora said, according to The Sun. “But keeping my seat warm are some great guest panelists, who I’m told are also super-competitive and will keep the others on their toes.”
One other star who will reportedly be filling in for Ora is Absolutely Fabulous actress Jennifer Saunders. The new season is expected to air in January.
