Although the series was renewed for a sixth season in October 2023, which was set to air in 2024,[3] the series was cancelled by Ten in May 2024.[4][5]
Production
In March 2019, TV Blackbox shared leaked news that
Network 10 would be producing a local series of the franchise.[6] The news was officially announced in May 2019 at the network's
upfronts.[7] In June 2019, it was revealed that
Osher Gunsberg would be the host of the series.[1] 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.[8][9]
At the network's
upfronts in October 2019, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a
second season.[10][11] 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[12] and was replaced by new panellist, comedian
Urzila Carlson.[13][14]
In October 2020, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a third season, which premiered on 13 September 2021.[15][16]
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.[17]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.[18]
Security
The front of the oversized sweatshirts celebrities wear on set while offstage to prevent their voices from being heard.[19]
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."[20] 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.[19][21]
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."[22]
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.[20][23]
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.[9] It was also confirmed that
Osher Günsberg would host the show.[26]
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.[28] 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.[29] On 4 June, Jackie O announced she would also depart from the show.[30] 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.
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.
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.[65]
The masked singer was in the bottom two but won their duel, and was not eliminated.
The masked singer was safe from elimination.
The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.
The masked singer did not perform.
(WC) This masked singer is a wildcard contestant.
The celebrities who competed in the fourth season of The Masked Singer, pictured in order of elimination (l-r):
Ryan Moloney ("Knight"),Lisa Curry ("Caterpillar"),Pia Miranda ("Thong"),Jamie Durie ("Tiger"),Emma Watkins ("Zombie"),Matt Preston ("Gnome"),Sam Sparro ("Popcorn"),Shannon Noll ("Blowfly"),Michelle Williams ("Microphone"),Hugh Sheridan ("Rooster"),Sheldon Riley ("Snapdragon") and Melody Thornton ("Mirrorball")
The masked singer was in the bottom two but won their duel, and was not eliminated.
The masked singer was safe from elimination.
The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked upon their elimination.
The masked singer did not perform.
(WC) This masked singer is a wild card contestant.
The celebrities who competed in the fifth season of The Masked Singer, pictured in order of elimination (l–r): Brian Austin Green ("Crash Test Dummy"),Sandra Sully ("Fawn"),Shaynna Blaze ("Bluebottle"),Charlotte Crosby ("Space Fairy"),Pete Murray ("Tiny"),La Toya Jackson ("Burger Gal"),Amy Sheppard ("Orca"),Brendan Fevola ("The Captain"),Courtney Act ("Cow Girl"),Conrad Sewell ("Bouncer"),Darren Hayes ("Grim Reaper") and Dami Im ("Snow Fox")
Not pictured: Summer Warne ("Bad Avocado")
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.[97][98][99] The rock trio had released the cover on their
YouTube channel, which also included original melodies from an unreleased original song.[98][99] The band threatened legal action and set up a
GoFundMe page, receiving support from their fans.[98][99]