Production of The Masked Singer is delayed, confirms Dave Hughes


EXCLUSIVE: The Masked Singer was supposed to be filmed this month but will be delayed as COVID-19 continues to impact the television industry

Earlier this week, it was revealed Lindsay Lohan wouldn’t be able to return to Australia to film The Masked Singer due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

And there may be more cast shake-ups to come, after Melbourne was plunged into stage-three lockdown this week following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Season two of The Masked Singer was scheduled to begin filming later this month in the Victorian capital, but has been delayed because of the escalating pandemic. 

EXCLUSIVE: ‘It’s just delayed as far as I know’ Melbourne-based comedian Dave Hughes (pictured) says The Masked Singer was supposed to be filmed this month… but new COVID-19 travel restrictions have forced production into another setback

Domestic travel restrictions between NSW and Victoria have disrupted filming, with judge Dave Hughes confirming to Daily Mail Australia: ‘It’s delayed as far as I know.’ 

Fellow judge Jackie ‘O’ Henderson is based in Sydney for his KIIS FM breakfast show, and the new rules mean she may not be able to travel interstate for a while.

This is despite the fact Channel 10 has already confirmed her return to the franchise.

Setback: With newly introduced COVID-19 domestic travel restrictions in place between NSW and Victoria - judge Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) and host Osher Günsberg won't be able to travel to it's new filming location in Melbourne

Setback: With newly introduced COVID-19 domestic travel restrictions in place between NSW and Victoria – judge Jackie ‘O’ Henderson (pictured) and host Osher Günsberg won’t be able to travel to it’s new filming location in Melbourne

Host Osher Günsberg is also based in Sydney.

It possible that Jackie, Osher and anyone else unable to travel to Melbourne will have to perform their duties remotely via video link. 

On Tuesday, Channel 10 announced it would be impossible for Lindsay Lohan to travel to Australia to join the local production due to the government’s restrictions on international travel.

Instead, she will be replaced by a local celebrity on the judging panel. 

Oh, no! On Tuesday, it was revealed Lindsay Lohan (pictured) wouldn't be returning for the second season of the show due to an international travel ban due to the pandemic

Oh, no! On Tuesday, it was revealed Lindsay Lohan (pictured) wouldn’t be returning for the second season of the show due to an international travel ban due to the pandemic

It comes after it was revealed the Warner Bros. production was being relocated from Sydney’s Fox Studios to Melbourne.

The show was forced to move because Disney and Marvel Studios had hired the entire backlot for the upcoming superhero film Thor: Love and Thunder 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 and Warner Bros. for comment.

Coming soon: The Masked Singer Australia is one of many television shows that has been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic

Coming soon: The Masked Singer Australia is one of many television shows that has been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic