The Masked Singer (Australian TV series)

The Masked Singer Australia was an Australian reality television singing competition show hosted that premiered on Network 10 on 23 September 2019. Hosted by Osher Günsberg, the show is based on the international music game show franchise Masked Singer which originated from the South Korean television program King of Mask Singer. The show is filmed at Disney Studios Australia, formerly called Fox Studios Australia.

Although the series was renewed for a sixth season in October 2023, which was set to air in 2024, the series was cancelled by Ten in May 2024.

Production
In March 2019, TV Blackbox shared leaked news that Network 10 would be producing a local series of the franchise. The news was officially announced in May 2019 at the network's upfronts. In June 2019, it was revealed that Osher Gunsberg would be the host of the series. On 15 July 2019, it was revealed that American actress Lindsay Lohan would join the show as a panellist. Australian singer Dannii Minogue, comedian Dave Hughes and radio presenter Jackie O were also announced alongside Lohan.

At the network's upfronts in October 2019, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season. In April 2020, it was reported that the COVID-19 pandemic would force pre-production of the second season to be delayed so filming was postponed from late July to early August 2020. Lindsay Lohan was also unable to fly to Melbourne to take part in the program and was replaced by new panellist, comedian Urzila Carlson.

In October 2020, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a third season, which premiered on 13 September 2021.

On 20 October 2021, it was announced that the series would return with a new season that aired in 2022, with Jackie O, Minogue, and Carlson all not returning. Mel B, Abbie Chatfield, and Chrissie Swan joined the panel as their replacements.

In February 2023, Swan announced that the show would be returning for a fifth season, which aired in late 2023.

Security
The show has an 'extreme security protocol' in effect both during and after filming to protect the celebrity's identities from leaking, with host Günsberg stating that the show "was beyond any kind of security I've been exposed to." Everyone involved in the show signed a non-disclosure agreement which prevented anyone from revealing any information about the shooting dates, costumes or identities of the masks episode until its broadcast. The celebrities who appear on the show are only allowed to inform their spouse about their participation, who must also sign one.

In order to keep the identities of the masks secret, audience members and the majority of the production staff were not allowed to watch the unmasking and were removed from the studio moments before the celebrities are revealed, with Günsberg revealing that there were "only 8 people in the room when it [the unmasking] happened."

Audience members had to place their phones in a special magnetic locked pouch when they were on set and were frequently swept throughout filming by security, which included former ASIO officials, for any devices and hidden cameras to ensure the masks' identities were kept secret.

Costumes
The costumes are designed and created by Australian Academy Award and BAFTA Award-Winning costume designer Tim Chappel, best known for his work on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert with Lizzy Gardiner.

Panellists and host
Following the announcement of the series, it was confirmed by Network 10 that the judging panel would consist of international actress and singer Lindsay Lohan, radio personality Jackie O, singer-songwriter Dannii Minogue and comedian Dave Hughes. It was also confirmed that Osher Günsberg would host the show.

On 7 July 2020, it was revealed that Lohan would be unable to return to the judging panel in the second season, as she could not travel from Dubai to Melbourne because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of travel restrictions. She was replaced for season two by new panellist, comedian Urzila Carlson (due to her travelling back to USA).

On 4 May 2022, it was announced on The Kyle and Jackie O Show that Carlson would be leaving the show to focus on her comedy tour, with the possibility of Lohan returning after a two-season absence. On 21 May, Minogue announced her departure from the show after three seasons, due to clashing commitments filming a new gay-dating show in the UK, I Kissed a Boy. On 4 June, Jackie O announced she would also depart from the show. On 9 June, Channel 10 announced that the three new panellists joining Dave Hughes for the fourth season would be television and radio presenter Chrissie Swan, television personality and radio host Abbie Chatfield and international singer Mel B.

Season 1
Contestants

{{Legend|#F888FD|The masked singer won their face-off and remained in the competition.}} {{Legend|#F3F781|The masked singer lost their face-off, but was saved by the judges and, therefore, not eliminated.}} {{Legend|lightgreen|The masked singer was safe from elimination.}} {{Legend|salmon|The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.}} {{Legend|#FFEBCD|The masked singer did not perform.}}

Episodes

Episode 5 (7 October)

 * Group number: "Me!" by Taylor Swift

Episode 6 (8 October)

 * Group number: "So Am I" by Ava Max

Episode 10 (21 October) — Finale

 * Group number: "This is Me" by Keala Settle, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul

Season 2
Contestants

{{Legend|#F888FD|The masked singer won their face-off and remained in the competition.}} {{Legend|#F3F781|The masked singer lost their face-off, but was not eliminated.}} {{Legend|lightgreen|The masked singer was safe from elimination.}} {{Legend|salmon|The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.}} {{Legend|#FFEBCD|The masked singer did not perform.}}

Episodes

Episode 5 (24 August)

 * Group number: "Can't Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake

Episode 6 (25 August)

 * Group number: "Came Here for Love" by Sigala & Ella Eyre

Episode 9 (7 September)

 * Group number: "This City" by Sam Fischer

Episode 11 (14 September) — Finale

 * Because of COVID-19 shutdown, the judges had to be in different states, with Dannii and Dave in-studio in Melbourne, Jackie in Sydney alongside Osher and Urzila in New Zealand.
 * Group number: "Together" by Sia

Season 3
Contestants

{{Legend|#F888FD|The masked singer won their face-off and remained in the competition.}} {{Legend|#F3F781|The masked singer lost their face-off, but was not eliminated.}} {{Legend|lightgreen|The masked singer was safe from elimination.}} {{Legend|salmon|The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.}} {{Legend|#FFEBCD|The masked singer did not perform.}}

Episodes

Episode 5 (21 September)

 * Group number: "Dynamite" by BTS

Episode 6 (26 September)

 * Group number: "Head & Heart" by Joel Corry & MNEK


 * Special guest mask performance: "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" by Train performed by Kyle Sandilands as Rubble

Episode 10 (4 October)

 * Group number: "Only Human" by The Jonas Brothers

Episode 11 (5 October)

 * Group number: "On a Night Like This" by Kylie Minogue

Season 4
This is the first season to feature "Wild Card" contestants. Further explained in the premiere episode, it was revealed that two of the twelve contestants would perform later in the competition, similar to the format of the fifth American season.

Contestants

{{Legend|#F3F781|The masked singer was in the bottom two but won their duel, and was not eliminated.}} {{Legend|lightgreen|The masked singer was safe from elimination.}} {{Legend|salmon|The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.}} {{Legend|#FFEBCD|The masked singer did not perform.}} (WC) This masked singer is a wildcard contestant.

Episodes

Episode 5 (15 August)

 * Group number: "Absolutely Everybody" by Vanessa Amorosi

Episode 6 (16 August)

 * Group Number: "Love Is In The Air" by John Paul Young

Episode 9 (23 August)

 * Group Number: "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors

Episode 11 (28 August) - Finale

 * Group number: "Firework" by Katy Perry

Season 5
The Wild Card twist from the previous season returned, with three "Wild Card" contestants to enter and perform later in the competition.

Contestants

{{Legend|#F3F781|The masked singer was in the bottom two but won their duel, and was not eliminated.}} {{Legend|lightgreen|The masked singer was safe from elimination.}} {{Legend|salmon|The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.}} {{Legend|#FFEBCD|The masked singer did not perform.}} (WC) This masked singer is a wild card contestant.

Episodes

Episode 5 (9 October)

 * Group number: "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" by Good Charlotte

Episode 6 (16 October)

 * Group number: "Run" by Becky Hill & Galantis

Episode 10 (31 October)

 * Group number: "Alive" by Sia

Episode 12 (7 November) – Finale

 * Group number: "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters


 * After being unmasked, Sewell performed "Rolling Thunder" from his album Precious as his encore performance.

Awards and nominations
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2019 ! scope="row"| 2020 ! scope="row"| 2021 ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2022 ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2023
 * rowspan="2"| 9th AACTA Awards
 * Best Entertainment Program
 * The Masked Singer
 * rowspan="2"| Best Costume Design in Television
 * rowspan="2"| Tim Chappel
 * rowspan="2"| Best Costume Design in Television
 * rowspan="2"| Tim Chappel
 * rowspan="2"| Tim Chappel
 * 10th AACTA Awards
 * 11th AACTA Awards
 * Best Entertainment Program
 * rowspan="3"| The Masked Singer
 * rowspan="2"| 62nd Logie Awards
 * Most Popular Entertainment Program
 * Most Outstanding Entertainment or Comedy Program
 * Most Outstanding Entertainment or Comedy Program
 * Most Outstanding Entertainment or Comedy Program
 * Most Outstanding Entertainment or Comedy Program
 * rowspan="2"| 63rd Logie Awards
 * Gold Logie for Most Popular Television Personality
 * Osher Günsberg
 * Most Outstanding Entertainment Program
 * The Masked Singer
 * Most Outstanding Entertainment Program
 * The Masked Singer
 * The Masked Singer

Controversy
In October 2019, American band Halocene claimed that the program had stolen "note for note, beat for beat" their arrangement of "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish, which the Lion (Kate Ceberano) sang during the third episode. The rock trio had released the cover on their YouTube channel, which also included original melodies from an unreleased original song. The band threatened legal action and set up a GoFundMe page, receiving support from their fans.