What is 'The Masked Singer - I'm A Celebrity Special'? All you need to know about the mash-up contest

ITV is celebrating the long-awaited return of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! to Australia with a special jungle-themed episode of The Masked Singer.

But how will two of the broadcaster's top entertainment shows combine in a spectacular mash-up of costumes and critters?

Read more: The Masked Dancer - everything we know about season 2

Here's all we know so far about The Masked Singer – I'm A Celebrity Special so far.

What is The Masked Singer - I'm A Celebrity Special?

ITV has announced a mash-up of two of its most popular entertainment shows with a one-off special episode of The Masked Singer that will get a jungle-themed makeover.

The contest will celebrate the return of I'm A Celebrity to Australia for the first time since 2019, as coronavirus restrictions forced it to move to Gwrych Castle in North Wales for the last two series.

Read more: All the winners of I'm A Celebrity

Known for its outlandish costumes, The Masked Singer will take inspiration from creature and critter-filled challenges for the themed episode, so expect celebrities to be hiding behind witchetty grubs and kangaroos.

As with the usual Masked Singer contest, mystery celebrities will serenade the judges dressed in amazing costumes while the panel try to guess - who's that behind the mask?

One by one, celebrities will be unmasked until the winner is revealed.

Katie Rawcliffe, ITV’s head of entertainment commissioning, said: "What a perfect way to celebrate the return of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! than with a unique mash-up of two hugely successful series. Viewers will get to enjoy all things Jungle with a wonderfully bonkers Masked Singer twist.

"With flamboyant costumes that pay homage to the iconic series as it returns to Australia, families will be able to play alongside our panel in TV's favourite guessing game."

The air date is yet to be announced.

Who is starring in it?

Of course, the identities of the masked celebrity singers are top secret.

But the usual panel of Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross will be back to guess who is in costume.

It will be hosted as usual by Joel Dommett, who is also a previous runner-up in I'm A Celebrity.

When is I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! back on TV?

An official launch date for the new series has not yet been announced, but ITV has confirmed the show will be back in Australia in November, the usual start date.

The contest then runs through until mid December and this year will be the first series since 2019 that has been filmed back at the usual camp in Australia.

ITV has also confirmed a new all-star series for 2023, which will welcome back some previous favourite campmates and set them up in a new camp in South Africa.

Is there another series of The Masked Singer?

The Masked Singer has been a huge hit for ITV, so it's expected to return for a fourth season with the show usually airing in January and February.

A new series of spin-off The Masked Dancer begins on Saturday at 6.30pm on ITV.

Watch: Rudy Giuliani unmasked as a contestant on The Masked Singer US