The Masked Singer shut down after positive COVID-19 test
The Masked Singer has been immediately suspended after several crew members received a positive test result for COVID-19.
The broadcast schedule for the show has not been impacted, but the closure also suspended filming on Nine’s Millionaire Hot Seat as both shows film in Melbourne’s Docklands and share facilities.
A Ten spokesperson told Mumbrella the entire Masked Singer team is being isolated.
“Production of The Masked Singer has been immediately suspended as a result of several crew members receiving a positive test result for COVID-19. The health and safety of the community, and our staff and production partners is our number one priority,” they said.
“The entire production team, including the masked singers, the host and panellists are now in self-isolation. They are all being monitored closely and are in constant contact with medical authorities.
“Network 10 is working closely with the Victorian Government and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Network 10 is providing all crew with all the support and assistance possible.”
Mumbrella understands the show was near its conclusion when the outbreak was discovered and enough filming has been done to allow the show to continue.
This isn’t Ten’s first COVID-19 lockdown during filming – it was also forced to take measures during Dancing With The Stars as Christian Wilkins and his dance partner were isolated following a positive test for his father Richard Wilkins.
A COVID-19 safety plan was being followed for the filming in Melbourne.
Speaking on her radio show this morning, host Jackie O has revealed she tested negative for the virus. It’s understood one of the dancers reported to be feeling unwell on Friday and has since tested positive.
Eddie McGuire, host of Millionaire Hot Seat, said on the radio this morning that the entire studio was shutdown following the news.
“They’ve shut the place down. It’s not even in the studio we’re in, it’s in the next studio but there is a bit of spill over so the Victorian government, in their wisdom — and I agree with them — have shut the whole place down,” he said. He went on to say filming has now been delayed until the end of stage four lockdown on September 13.
McGuire also said that the same dance crew from The Masked Singer was supposed to appear on Seven’s golf series Holey Moley, which is filmed in Queensland.
The Masked Singer host Osher Gunsberg said the lockdown began two hours before filming started on the grand final.
“We were literally two hours away from hitting record on our grand finale,’’ he told The Project.
“This person was so brave, this young person put their hand up and said, ‘hang on guys, I’m not feeling so great, I should probably let you know this’.
“And they were brave enough to pull the emergency brake on this freight train.
“It stopped everything, everything shut down because nothing is ever as important as everyone’s safety and I really hope we can see that as an example. If you don’t feel great, this is not worth it.”
Jackie O said on radio this morning that the final will still go ahead with help from the ‘clever and creative’ people who work on the show.
topics
coronavirus
COVID-19
Dancing With The Stars
Eddie McGuire
jackie O
Jackie O Henderson
Millionaire Hot Seat
Osher Gunsberg
Ten
