The Masked Singer Season 11 Adds Rita Ora to the Panel as Nicole Scherzinger Heads to the West End
The Masked Singer judge Nicole Scherzinger is set to take on the iconic role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End production of Sunset Boulevard. With Scherzinger committing to the London stage this month, producers have confirmed that singer and reality television veteran Rita Ora will join the panel for Season 11.
As taping for Season 11 begins, Rita Ora will sit alongside panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy and Robin Thicke. The new season is expected to air on FOX during the midseason of 2024, bringing fresh personalities and familiar faces back to the guessing game that blends celebrity performance with mystery and spectacle.
Nicole Scherzinger will also appear on Season 10 of The Masked Singer, which filmed earlier this year. That season was scheduled to return to its regular timeslot on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. ET. With Scherzinger stepping into a major theatrical role, the producers tapped Ora for Season 11 to ensure the panel retains a strong mix of music industry expertise and on-camera savvy.
Rita Ora Has Extensive Experience Serving on Talent-Show Panels
Rita Ora brings substantial television and live-performance experience to the panel. She is already a familiar face to fans of the format as a current panelist on the UK edition of The Masked Singer, which gives her direct insight into the show’s format and the challenges of identifying hidden performers. In addition to that role, she serves as a coach on The Voice Australia and previously coached on The Voice UK in 2015. Her background also includes judging and mentoring stints on major formats such as The X Factor UK.
Ora’s television résumé extends beyond singing competitions. She hosted America’s Next Top Model in 2016 and fronted ABC’s summer music series Boy Band in 2017, demonstrating her comfort in front of diverse television audiences. She has also appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, bringing a blend of pop-culture knowledge, fashion awareness, and panel chemistry. That combination of live performance experience, industry credibility and television presence makes her a natural fit for the high-energy, high-profile role of a Masked Singer panelist.
Beyond television, Rita Ora is best known for her pop hits such as “R.I.P.” and “How We Do (Party).” Her album You & I includes singles like “Praising You (feat. Fatboy Slim)” and “You Only Love Me,” which helped cement her status as a charting pop artist comfortable with both upbeat tracks and more reflective material. Her music career gives her the ear and instincts needed to evaluate performances and offer meaningful commentary during the competition.
Ora also has a growing acting résumé, with roles in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu and the film Twist. She continues to expand her film work and is lined up for future projects, including appearances opposite Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro in Tin Soldier, as well as a role alongside Brandy in the sequel The Rise of Red. Those film credits add further depth to her understanding of performance, production and character work—skills that translate well to judging masked performers whose stage personas often draw on theatricality.
With Rita Ora joining Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy and Robin Thicke, Season 11 of The Masked Singer will blend international pop experience, comedic insight, and vocal expertise on its judging panel. As Nicole Scherzinger heads to the West End to take on Norma Desmond, fans can look forward to a refreshed lineup of panelists and the familiar mix of bold costumes, surprising reveals and the celebrity performances that have made the show a ratings staple.