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COVID outbreak shuts down Masked Singer

Update: 10 production is shut down with stars & staff into lockdown, just before grand final.

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Production on The Masked Singer has been shut down due to an outbreak of coronavirus.

The Herald Sun reports 7 dancers have tested positive. One of the dancers reported feeling ill at work on Friday, and was told to go home and get tested. The Department of Health and Human Services, ordered a production shut down of the Warner Bros. series.

A Network 10 spokesperson tells TV Tonight, “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.

“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.”

10 has not confirmed individuals affected but the cast this season includes Dannii Minogue, Jackie O, Dave Hughes, Urzila Carlson and Osher Gunsberg, who is due to resume filming on The Bachelorette.

It is unclear whether all will have to remain in isolation for 14 days, as this will depend on whether they were deemed close contacts of dancers.

Filming last took place on Wednesday with a final due to be filmed today.

The ramifications of the shutdown could thrown other television productions in Melbourne under the spotlight. The Docklands studio was supposed to be used by Channel 9 this week, a booking which has now been cancelled.

Updated: Premier Daniel Andrews said today, “If [production] weren’t to continue, then the whole thing would basically fall over and would be lost to Victoria.

“It’s done on a case-by-case basis and it’s always done with a COVID-safe plan.

“I’m not pleased to make the point, but it does make the point that this is a widely infectious virus, and even if you’ve got the very best processes in place you’ll see positive cases.”

47 Responses

  1. Such negativity! This show provides crew, dancers etc with an income. Should never been allowed to go into production comments are ridiculous. That would apply to all TV shows and movies, not just the ones people don’t happen to like. Well wishes to all cast and crew of TMS. I can wait for the finale, I’d rather all be safe.

    1. There are plenty of industries that provide important services and are low risk that have had to shut down. Why is reality tv held to a different standard to everyone else’s industry? completely non-essential and clearly cannot adequately social distance.

      This privilege just strengthens arguments seen from the likes of Jim’s mowing that undermine the whole lockdown.

  4. Did 10 learn nothing from Dancing with the stars. Clearly Melbourne was the worst state in Australia to produce this. Maybe now they’ll take social distancing seriously and stop their presenters on The Living Room sitting so closely together .

  5. i assumed this was filmed prior to stage 4. Crazy to think about the level of sacrifice so many of us have had to make; cancelling funerals and surgery, yet down the road something so non-essential was filming almost business as usual, negating all that sacrifice. Glad its been shut down.

    the productions’ covid safe plan also got danii minogue to avoid hotel quarantine. seems they got a very generous case worker.

  6. Despite the precautions, filming in Melbourne at the moment was always a risk. Hopefully they can regroup to film a finale at some point soon. And, of course, wishing speedy recovery to those who’ve come down with this nasty virus

  7. I’m surprised that this was still in the process of filming. I thought that they would have filmed the entirety of the series well in advance.

    I’m baffled that the likes of The Bachelor/ette can continue filming with all of the saliva-swapping that goes on. Why aren’t they following health advice?

  8. Assuming Osher is in lockdown. Who do we think will he asked to fill in as host for Bachelorette?

    Matty J perhaps? Don’t think that Grant Denyer would quite be the right fit.

    Maybe they could pull in a female host for Bachelorette! Bring back Georgia Love perhaps.

    1. So you are happy that a show has been shut down and put people that are probably freelancers back out of work for a period of time and not being paid. That people now have COVID-19 that can actually kill people, just so you don’t have to watch a promo for a show that you don’t watch.

    2. Considering TEN provides you their shows to watch for free, endless promos are expected. I’m just happy they have continued to provide us any content during the pandemic and hope those affected make a full recovery.

      1. Excellent comment. I think people, myself included, sometimes forget that the FTA networks are just that…Free ! And watching promo’s and adds is a small sacrifice in return for some excellent content.

        1. yes and no, constantly putting on a promo for a show (not a commercial) over & over on every single ad break is just beating viewers over the head & its annoying. I don’t think those of us who find it annoying are saying ‘don’t show promos’, we just want them to tone it down a bit, its bloody relentless!
          Or we can just record every single Ten show on the pvr then watch it back fwding thru the ad breaks & not seeing them at all, which i personally do with quite a few of them. Not always practical though & some shows like TMS i’d rather watch live or fairly close to.

  10. Reliable news outlets report one dancer tested positive with seven cases now connected. Doesn’t mean those seven cases work on the show.
    Herald sun has misreported

    1. Aren’t most celebs not being spotted during the pandemic? Certainly all the ones in Melbourne. Also, no confirmation it will be two weeks, depends who was directly in contact with dancers. I’d presume everyone on stage, but I’m guessing.

  13. Hardly surprising. I said back when it was starting filming that it shouldn’t with Melbourne being such a disaster at the time. This confirms it. Watching the show and seeing the number of people on stage and seeming to lay on top of each other around the stage it’s hardly surprising. Andrews taking another unnecessary risk that has backfired.

      1. The govt always said television production that was underway before Stage 4 could continue. Others could not start. The genre of production did not come into the decision making. It remains to be seen if this will change that position.

        1. Just because the government says you can do something doesn’t mean you have to. This show didn’t have to be made it could have been made with significantly less people involved.

          2. DK, you just possibly have given it away… if Brett Sutton isn’t at today’s press conference it’s pretty clear he is one of them. Quite the celeb in our house

      2. Why Dr Rudi, A TV show is a business, just like many still operating in Melbourne. Factories like meatworks are working at 3/4 capacity as a precaution. Everyone is working around the difficulties, Mask Singer having no studio audience. No need for Melbourne shaming.

  20. Expect they will swap Masked Singer to once a week on Sunday nights. This will buy them time. Family feud will go to Monday nights and they will put on something like repeats of Bondi Rescue on Tuesday

      1. Exactly. The entire cast and crew would have been due to head home tomorrow, so having them all put their lives on hold for another two weeks before they can film the finale is a huge ask.

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