London – NBCUniversal Formats has signed a deal for its successful variety format Hidden Singer in Thailand, following huge popularity in South Korea.

Channel 3 has commissioned 13X60’ episodes of the fun-filled musical talent competition show, which sees an audience of 100 judges vote across multiple rounds on the person who they think is the original singer out of a selection of five impersonators. To make their decision, the audience must rely only on their ears.

Hidden Singer originally aired on Korea’s JTBC in December 2012 and has proved to be   immensely popular across three seasons with increasingly high ratings. Audiences in Korea peaked at 9.13 million and the first episode of the show’s third season achieved the highest ratings among all programmes broadcast at the same time, including FTA and Pay-TV, winning its slot.

In Thailand the show will feature celebrity hosts Wan Thanakrit Panichwid and Peck Preamnut Suwannanon.