Battle lines drawn as The Masked Singer and SAS Australia fight for reality reign

Australia’s two newest shows entering the TV ratings war are fighting neck-and-neck for top spot — as Seven and Ten face-off with Nine.

Australia’s two newest shows entering the TV ratings war are fighting neck-and-neck for top spot.

SAS Australia’s second season had a huge lead in off the back of The Voice’s ratings dominance, but only scored 647,000 viewers across the five capital cities.

The Masked Singer Australia has had as much hype and promo as its brutal reality counterpart and 760,000 viewers tuned into see Hollywood heavyweight Vinnie Jones revealed as the first celebrity performer on Ten’s bonkers reality show.

The new reality challengers were down on their 2020 debut editions at 834,000 (SAS) and 733,000 (TMS). While both have shown a somewhat lacklustre start, the networks will be looking to Video on Demand (VOD) or streaming service numbers through 7 Plus and 10 play which now count in the industry’s recent ratings review audit.

Hollywood movie star Vinnie Jones is unmasked as Volcano on Season 3 of The Masked Singer Australia Picture: Nigel Wright

The two shows were eclipsed by longstanding show The Block which drew 846,000 metro viewers. It has been a slow start for the previous ratings juggernaut until this half way point. It was comprehensively – and ironically – beaten by Seven’s rebooted The Voice. Despite its declining ratings fortunes on its former home on Nine, the revamped talent quest proved to be a winner for Channel 7, viewers embracing it as a tonic for Australia’s lockdown blues.

There was, however, huge social media interest in The Masked Singer as the guessing games began.

Dannii Minogue. Dave Hughes, Jackie O and Urzila Carlson try to figure out who is behind the mask in the opening episode of Season 3 of The Masked Singer Australia. Picture: Nigel Wright. Picture: Ten

While the judges Dannii Minogue, Dave “Hughesy” Hughes, Jackie O and Urzila Carlson suggested fellow Hollywood superstars Christian Bale, Billy Bob Thornton, Sacha Baron Cohen and Australian boxer Anthony Mundine, a few super sleuth viewers pieced together the clues and picked the former professional footballer as the man behind the Volcano mask.

One tweeting “Other thoughts: This costume screams first boot energy I know too well.”

Despite an explosive performance, Jones’ take on The Proclaimers 80s hit I’m Gonna Be didn’t quite measure up to the Vampire’s rendition of Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise.

When Jones finally removed his mask, host Osher Gunsberg and the panellists could not believe their eyes.

“This is amazing,” Jackie O exclaimed. “We never even thought for a second it was you”.

Could celebrity chef Justine Schofield be the incredible voice underneath the Pavlova. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Social media pundits are certain Em Rusciano is Dolly. Picture: James Henderson

Clues point to former Bachelor Matt Agnew as the voice behind the Professor. Picture: Supplied.

Some viewers were not so kind, one tweeting “You know your career has almost hit rock bottom when you appear on the Masked Singer singing The Proclaimers “500 Miles”.”

Other guesses for the famous faces behind Academy Award-winning designer Tim Chappel’s stunning creations included MasterChef alum Justine Schofield as the Pavlova, comedian/performer Em Rusciano as Dolly and former Bachelor Matt Agnew as the Professor.

Social media pundits also took to Twitter to dissect SAS Australia as the 18 new star recruits were forced to endure a shocking tear gassing exercise before even entering the compound. Chief Instructor Ant Middleton and the DS (Directing Staff) Mark “Billy” Billingham, Jason “Foxy” Fox and Ollie Ollerton wasting no time in stripping the celebrities bare in the explosive premiere.

“Everyone thinks they’re hardcore until they get f*****g gassed,” said Middleton.

Sam Burgess during the SAS Challenge.

Surprised by the biggest recruit reacting so strongly to the tear gas, the DS brought #16 – controversial former rugby player – Sam Burgess into the Mirror Room for questioning, where he proceeded to come clean about the personal events which brought him there.

“I just completed 28 days of rehab because my last 18 months have been crazy,” said Burgess. “Everything I’ve touched turned to sh*t, I’ve lost it all.”

The recruits’ world of pain continued, with a dangerous test of endurance – a helicopter ladder crossing high above a lake – which proved too challenging for some.

One of the few to successfully complete the task, recruit #17 Alicia Molik, received a brutal dressing down from Middleton after a blatant display of showboating.

Alicia Molik doesn’t flinch as she cops an earbashing from Ant Middleton in the opening episode of SAS Australia Season 2. Picture: Seven

Tennis coach Molik said she had no regrets about her celebrations.

“In my line of work and my sport, when challenges are overcome, moments like that are celebrated and encouraged,” she shared. “That’s what I do for my athletes, It’s a natural thing to do.”

The mother-of-two admitted she contemplated swimming to the other side of the lake after Middleton pushed her out of the helicopter.

“If I had another chance I would have gone to the other side of the lake,” she revealed when we chat after filming had wrapped.

“But as I swam back I thought ‘I’m not going to give him anything’,” Molik revealed. “I promised myself I wouldn’t react.”

Brynne Edelsten on season 2 of SAS: Australia. Picture: Supplied/CH7

And react she didn’t – drawing praise from viewers.

As punishment, all recruits faced their first “beasting” back on the Parade Square.

Collapsing under the pressure, #3 Brynne Edelsten became the first recruit to VW (voluntarily withdraw) from the course, stating: “Even though I’m disappointed I’m leaving, I know that I need to because my body is not strong enough to keep doing these things.

“But I have no regrets about this, if anything it encourages me to keep going and see what I can do in the future.”

Originally published as Battle lines drawn as The Masked Singer and SAS Australia fight for reality reign