While a fourth season is scheduled for 2022, two of the four panellists will not be returning, including one of the original favourites.
The Masked Singer Australia is in for a major casting shake up with two of four members of its judging panel declining a chance to return for the fourth season.
The Herald Sun reports Dannii Minogue, one of the original judges from the first season, will not be returning to her role in 2022 due to a scheduling conflict.
She said:
“My fashion commitments in the UK conflict with scheduling of The Masked Singer filming this year, so unfortunately I won’t be returning.
“I am sure with borders opening there will be loads of great surprises for everyone.
“I’ve loved every minute working on TMS and will miss my Inspector Minogue role.”
Indeed many fans enjoyed Dannii’s ‘Inspector Minogue’ title, known for her excellent sleuthing and several correct guesses of the masked celebrities.
The news follows the announcement by Urzila Carlson earlier this month that she would not return for another season, telling The Kyle and Jackie O Show she is instead focusing on her comedy tour.
That leaves only Jackie ‘O‘ Henderson and Dave Hughes as expected to return to the show, although not official announcement has been made.
Hughes, Minogue and Henderson were all original panellists alongside Lindsay Lohan, who was only among the lineup for the first season.
Carlson replaced Lohan for the second and third seasons due to Australian border closures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lohan originally confirmed with TV Blackbox she was due to return for season three, but further COVID-19 complications prevented her from being able to do so.
2022 offers the first realistic chance for Lohan to return to the panel, given Australian borders have reopened. If she does, a completely new celebrity will still be necessary to fill the four judging spots.
Perhaps Channel 10 will elect to feature one of the previously masked celebrities who competed on the show… Rob Mills or Bonnie Anderson, perhaps?
Time will tell for sure, but The Masked Singer is expected to air in the latter half of 2022, so an announcement might be on the way soon.
Im really suspiçious of 3 out of the 4 celebrities leaving at the same time because i know Jackie O is leaving also, hmm ! i wonder what is really going on behind the scenes.