Judging by pay deal it’s megabucks Mo...

Comic gets £500k to be on The Masked Singer panel

Mo Gilligan got a bumper festive pay packet as a judge on The Masked Singer.

The BAFTA-winning comedian and presenter was handed £500,000 to join the panel in the second series of the show, currently airing on ITV.

He sits alongside Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and Davina McCall, having replaced American actor and star of the Hangover trilogy Ken Jeong.

But despite his megabucks pay, his salary is dwarfed by Rita’s.

A source says: “Rita received a whopping £1million-per-series deal for her role as a returning judge.

“They were really keen to secure her return as she had been such a big hit in the first series.

“But they also really wanted Mo, too. He is a prolific talent with a big following.”

Mo, 32 – who shot to fame several years ago when his videos of characters on his social media were spotted by the Canadian rapper Drake – adds: “It’s amazing to be joining one of the biggest family entertainment shows in the UK.”

He won a Bafta in February 2020 for Best Entertainment Performance for his part in The Lateish Show – his solo presenting gig which saw him chat to guests including David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Meantime, The Masked Singer has not been without controversy after Rita was caught flouting lockdown rules in November. She held an illegal 30th birthday party indoors for friends and family at London’s Casa Cruz restaurant, and failed to self-isolate for 14 days following a trip to Egypt.

She later volunteered a £10,000 fine and issued a public apology.

The Masked Singer was filmed months before she broke the rules. “TV execs were far from impressed by this behaviour,” claims my source.

Rita reportedly flew off to Bulgaria last month where she spent Christmas and New Year. And she pulled out of a promo for the show by not taking her place alongside her fellow judges on last month’s Jonathan Ross Show. She was replaced by The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett.

No decision has yet been made regarding a third series, with Rita set to join Australia’s The Voice.

A spokesperson for the show says: “We never comment on artist contracts.”

As most of the country nestles down into another lockdown, thank goodness for the return of Staged to binge on.

and are back with a second series of the BBC hit.

The pair star as two actors whose West End play has been put on hold due to Covid-19, but whose director has asked them to continue with rehearsals online. ■■Available now on BBC iPlayer or BBC 1, Tuesday, 9.45pm

IN TUNE Mo with Davina, Joel, Rita and Jonathan of Netflix hit Bridgerton, says she owes her success to her mum. The 25-year-old – a relative unknown before being cast in the lead role of Daphne in the saucy period drama – is daughter of actor Sally Dynevor, who has played bossy social climber Sally Metcalfe in Corrie for 35 years. Phoebe says her famous mum has instilled great life values and manners into her, which have carried her forward in her career. She says: “My mum says treat everyone well, be grateful and believe in yourself.” And she reveals that her remarkable talent is down to her teaching herself: “I didn’t go to drama school, I’m self-taught.” Sadly, she has no desire for soapland. “Not something I’d think about doing,” she says. What a shame – she and Sally would be a fantastic double act.

DELIGHTED Mo and, left, with masked singers