'I make props for The Masked Singer and The Traitors TV shows'

'I make props for The Masked Singer and The Traitors TV shows'

Tim Simpson, the creative force behind many striking props and masks on popular television shows, has shared his experiences working on two well-known programmes: The Masked Singer and The Celebrity Traitors. Since 2020, Simpson has been involved in crafting the elaborate masks for ITV’s celebrity singing competition, contributing to every series. Alongside this, he has designed large-scale chess pieces and a towering model traitor for the BBC’s hit show, The Celebrity Traitors.

Operating from Portslade in East Sussex through his company, Plunge Creations, Simpson made a significant impact on The Celebrity Traitors, which saw Alan Carr crowned as the winner in 2025. Simpson and his team created the unforgettable giant chess pieces, including a snake and a rat, that featured prominently during one of the show’s challenges. Speaking about the imposing model traitor that moves around the chessboard, he explained, “I think it creeps people out. That’s what nightmares are made of.” Simpson also hinted at a “mysterious prop” he designed for the upcoming season of The Traitors, describing it as a fun and secretive project that viewers will recognize when it appears.

Regarding The Masked Singer’s newest series, which begins airing on Saturday, Simpson expressed enthusiasm about the production. He believes this season offers the best set design yet and proudly singled out “Can of Worms” as his favorite mask among the new characters. Simpson emphasized the collaborative nature of the mask-making process, which begins months in advance with brainstorming sessions. While not every concept makes the final cut, the creative team usually encourages taking risks, often telling him to “just go for it.”

Simpson and two colleagues are responsible for the six new masked characters set to appear on the upcoming ITV show, which include Red Panda, Moth, Gargoyle, Sloth, Can of Worms, and Disc Jockey. He described the delicate balance required in their designs, aiming to craft costumes that are whimsically strange without being frightening, especially to younger viewers. “The sense of the absurd is what you need. You need the cute characters, but also downright strange,” he said, highlighting the unique challenge of blending charm and peculiarity

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