Channel 10 jets international stars to Sydney for The Masked Singer

After shock rating fails for The Bachelor and Survivor, a TV insider has revealed the lengths execs are going to to ensure their other biggest show doesn’t follow suit.

Channel 10’s The Bachelor will begin airing double episodes on Wednesday night amid lacklustre ratings.

An insider told Confidential that the network recently changed the show schedule “to get it over with quickly” after the show launched to its lowest premiere ratings in history last month with 482,000 metro viewers.

“Yes, Thursday 12th August and Wednesday 18th August are both double episodes,” a Network 10 spokeswoman said.

When asked for further details, Confidential did not receive a response.

The Bachelor launched to its worst ratings premiere in history last month, despite millions of people stuck in lockdown. Picture: Network Ten

With the latest season of Survivor also producing low numbers, it seems the network has gone to great lengths to ensure that the new season of their other biggest show The Masked Singer is a ratings success.

Confidential understands that the network has flown in international celebrities, just as rival Channel 7 recently did for Big Brother VIP.

It’s unclear at this stage which A-list stars will appear on the show.

The Seven Network previously came under fire for bringing British commentator Katie Hopkins to Sydney before she was deported for allegedly flouting hotel quarantine rules.

Many critics questioned how international stars are permitted to enter the country during the pandemic, while more than 30,000 Australians remain stranded overseas.

Channel 10’s new season of The Masked Singer will feature various international celebrities.

In a statement, a Network 10 spokeswoman said, “The Masked Singer Australia includes some international celebrities as part of the cast, who are set to be unmasked when the series airs next month.

“Their time in Australia was permitted under the government rules and regulations for international artists arriving in Australia, and these arrangements exist outside of the flight cap on international arrivals.

“They did not take the place of any Australian citizens returning home and they completed the necessary quarantine requirements upon arrival. Network 10 and Warner Bros. are committed to providing employment to artists and production industries during this challenging time.”