Dannii Minogue and Jackie O are among stars nervously waiting on COVID-19 test results as Eddie McGuire is caught up in Masked Singer outbreak - and Dan Andrews DEFENDS allowing filming TV shows during lockdown
- Million Dollar Hot Seat is the second reality show to stop filming in Melbourne
- The Masked Singer studio will undergo a deep clean amid a COVID-19 outbreak
- Both reality programs are filmed in separate studios but they shared facilities
- The sets are in Melbourne, the centre of the nation's second wave of coronavirus
- Daniel Andrews said the decision to keep the shows running was not up to him
Million Dollar Hot Seat is the second TV show ordered to stop production following a coronavirus outbreak on a neighbouring set that has forced the likes of Jackie 'O' Henderson and Dannii Minogue into isolation.
The filming of Eddie McGuire's quiz show ground to a halt on Sunday at the request of the Victorian Government after seven dancers on The Masked Singer tested positive to COVID-19.
Minogue, Henderson and comedian Dave Hughes - judges on the show - along with host Osher Günsberg were among 200 people ordered to isolate until their tests results are in on Monday.
Million Dollar Hot Seat is filmed at a separate studio but shared facilities with The Masked Singer at the Melbourne location - the epicentre of Australia's second wave.
The filming of Eddie McGuire's (pictured) quiz show ground to a halt on Sunday following orders from the Victorian Government
New episodes of Million Dollar Hot Seat (pictured) were due to air on Monday, but the network would like to resume filming by September 14
'Anything that wasn't already in production by midnight August 6 was not able to continue and that includes things that were on hiatus. Up until an hour ago we were still hoping to proceed,' a Channel Nine spokesman told the Herald Sun.
Jackie O, who is from Sydney but isolating in Melbourne, said the judges were all shocked and 'devastated' by the closure of The Masked Singer set.
'We've all been inside this bubble for the last month and everyone has become like family. So we were all quite upset when we heard the news,' she said.
'I feel like I’ve spent the majority of the year isolating, even back home in Sydney where the numbers aren’t as high, I still stay home whenever I can. So for me it’s become the new norm.'
She is confident the finale will go ahead and that producers will work to ensure the crew are safe.
The Masked Singer judge Dannii Minogue has been ordered into isolation following the outbreak
Jackie 'O' Henderson has also entered lockdown after a coronavirus outbreak on The Masked Singer
Sources told Sydney Morning Herald that producers expect the episode to broadcast as scheduled.
'We were fortunate to have already filmed all the episodes except the finale,' a Network 10 spokeswoman told the publication.
Contact tracing is underway as authorities scramble to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Gunsberg, who also hosts 10's Bachelor franchise, must complete two weeks in isolation.
Network sources said it would not be affected as the show films several weeks in advance.
He will be required to pass medical tests in coming weeks upon returning to New South Wales, where he will commence filming for an upcoming season in Sydney.
Hughes, who also co-anchors national drive show Hughesy & Ed, has been given special equipment to broadcast in isolation.
He told the Herald Sun that he and his family had now been tested for the virus, but that no one had symptoms.
Location: The show's set is in Melbourne, which is at the centre of Australia's coronavirus second wave. Host Osher Gunsberg is pictured
Pictured: The Masked Singer set with masked coronavirus testing professionals in Melbourne
The same allowance has been granted to Jackie O to continue presenting Kiis FM's Sydney breakfast show with Kyle Sandilands.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews stumbled over questions as to why the programs were allowed to continue amid unprecedented stage four lockdowns.
He told reporters on Sunday that it was not his decision to allow the programs to go ahead when other businesses around Melbourne have been forced to shut down.
'They're not decisions initially made by me,' he said.
'What I would say though is that there are some productions that if they weren't to continue, then the whole thing would basically fall over and would be lost to Victoria.'
He explained it was a 'case-by-case basis', in keeping with COVID-19 protocols.
A masked woman and man carrying Channel 10 gift bags entered the network's production site on Sunday a day after singing reality series was rocked by an outbreak
The state's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the Department of Health had been notified about the outbreak and the program closed as soon as the cases were confirmed.
He added: 'The determination has been made around broad sectors that are considered essential and television is one of those.'
The production is understood to have had a COVID-19 safety plan in place, which includes daily temperature checks and written health declarations upon arrival and departure from the studio.
Other measures included special bins for the disposal of mandatory face masks, strict hygiene protocols, a special safety induction for all staff, and a dedicated COVID-19 manager.
Mr Andrews said The Masked Singer contagion proves how businesses with a COVID-19 safety plan can still be susceptible to an outbreak.
With no studio audience this season because of coronavirus, the show has instead used dancers to perform in the forefront as the stars perform
'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,' he said.
Filming for the show's second season was moved to Melbourne due to limited capacity at Sydney's Fox studio.
Network Ten said in a statement on Saturday that the entire production team is 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.'
People were pictured queuing for entry to the studio, some carrying Channel 10 gift bags, just a day after the show's studio was shutdown
'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.
One dancer came to the set ill on Friday and was told by producers to go home before testing positive to coronavirus, the Sunday Herald Sun reported.
Another six dancers who were in close contact also reportedly tested positive.
With no studio audience this season because of coronavirus, the show has instead used dancers to perform in the forefront as the stars perform.
Victoria recorded another 208 cases of coronavirus on Sunday, and 17 more deaths.
The national death toll is now 502.
The Masked Singer's Osher Günsberg reveals show was two hours away from filming grand finale before production was suspended
By Ali Daher
The Masked Singer's Osher Günsberg has revealed the show was hours away from filming the epic grand finale, before production was suspended on Saturday.
Speaking to The Sunday Project via video link, the 46-year-old began: 'We were literally two hours away from hitting record on our grand finale.'
'The pyrotechnics were loaded, everyone was in costume and we were ready to go,' he said.
Bad luck: On Sunday, The Masked Singer's Osher Günsberg revealed the show was two hours away from filming the grand finale before production was suspended. Pictured on The Sunday Project
Osher explained that a young person had put their hand up and said they were not feeling well, before production was immediately suspended.
'They were brave enough to pull the emergency brake on the freight train. We hit stop and everyone shut down,' he said.
Osher continued: 'Nothing is as important as everyone's safety. I hope we can see them as an example if you're not feeling great, it's not worth it.'
Speaking to The Project via video link, the 46-year-old began: 'We were literally two hours away from hitting record on our grand finale'
The Channel 10 host also said that he and judge Jackie 'O' Henderson were scheduled to fly back to Sydney on Sunday, however are now in self-isolation.
The COVID-19 bombshell came on the night of the show's grand final being filmed, however, producers expect the episode to broadcast as scheduled at a later date.
'We were fortunate to have already filmed all the episodes except the finale,' a Network 10 spokeswoman told the publication.
Unlucky: Osher explained that a young person had put their hand up and said they were not feeling well, before production was immediately suspended
The temporary suspension of production will not affect the show, with filming for the next three weeks already complete.
The show's set is in Melbourne, which is at the centre of Australia's second wave of coronavirus.
Contract tracing is underway as authorities scramble to determine the cause of the outbreak.
The zany show was allowed to continue filming under state government regulations as it had commenced production prior to Victoria's Stage four lockdown.
