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The celebrities rumoured to be on The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer has created a firestorm of speculation since its first episode aired to big ratings. So, just who are behind the masks?

Natalie Brown
8 min read
September 25, 2019 - 11:17AM
The Masked Singer Australia

Speculation about the celebrities who could be behind the masks on Channel 10’s newest musical reality show, ­The Masked Singer Australia, is at a high after the show’s high-rating premiere.

Part-guessing game, part-singing competition, the show involves 12 celebrities performing each week until only one remains.

The catch? The contestants are disguised by outrageous costumes — leaving it up to judges Lindsay Lohan, Jackie O, Dannii Minogue and Dave Hughes to figure out who could be behind the masks.

Channel 10 has dropped some cryptic clues, causing rumours to swirl about who could be making an appearance.

Each episode, one of the singers will be revealed, and throughout the series clues will be given with the judging panel offering up their best guesses.

RELATED: Social media driven wild with guesses during The Masked Singer

RELATED: Every clue so far for The Masked Singer Australia

It was revealed early on that in the mix hides an ARIA Award winner, an MTV Award winner, a Logie Award winner, an Order of Australia winner, a World Cup winner and a Hall of Famer, and that while all celebrities can sing, it doesn’t mean they’re professional singers.

While the following list doesn’t include spoilers, don’t read on if you’d like to be surprised by the celebrities’ identities. You’ve been warned!

KATE CEBERANO

After the lion’s debut performance, viewers are convinced that Kate Ceberano is behind the mask.
After the lion’s debut performance, viewers are convinced that Kate Ceberano is behind the mask.

While fans were initially convinced that Rob Mills could be hiding under the lion’s mask, after its debut performance fans are speculating it’s actually Kate Ceberano.

Ceberano’s voice, apparently, is a dead giveaway for the lion’s true identity.

She also won a string of talent competitions when she was young, fitting in with the hint that the lion entered a contest when they were young that “changed everything” and brought them closer to their “idols”.

CODY SIMPSON

Fans are convinced that Australian singer Cody Simpson is behind the robot mask.
Fans are convinced that Australian singer Cody Simpson is behind the robot mask.

Viewers are convinced Australian musician Cody Simpson is underneath the robot costume.

Clues given for the robot include caring about the environment and picking up rubbish, stashing the trash in bags labelled “UN”.

Simpson is a United Nations Development Program ocean advocate and has posted on his social media before about the world’s plastic consumption.

Further convincing fans that Simpson is the robot is the mask’s favourite animal: the butterfly, which could reference the singer’s swimming past.

CASEY DONOVAN

Could Casey Donovan be behind the lion’s costume?
Could Casey Donovan be behind the lion’s costume?

Most viewers think that Kate Ceberano is behind the lion’s mask — but others are speculating it’s actually Casey Donovan, whose career aligns with the given clues.

The lion mentions a “big island” — Donovan won the third season of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! — and a competition that changed everything when they were young and brought them closer to their idols. Donovan was the winner of Australian Idol’ssecond season in 2004 when she was only 16.

DENI HINES

Fans are convinced that Deni Hynes is behind one of the masks.
Fans are convinced that Deni Hynes is behind one of the masks.

One of the celebrities fans are most convinced is behind a mask is ’70s singer Marcia Hines’ daughter, Deni.

Viewers are speculating that she’ll likely be behind the unicorn costume, with hints including “I have been the princess but never the queen” and unicorns “are creatures born of legends with bloodlines going back through the ages”, which could be a reference to her mother.

WENDELL SAILOR

Fans have made a convincing case that Wendell Sailor is underneath the rhino costume.
Fans have made a convincing case that Wendell Sailor is underneath the rhino costume.

Viewers are convinced that the rhino is none other than former Australian dual international, Wendell Sailor.

Not only is the rhino the same height as Sailor (191cm), but the other clues also point to his past. “Hopping from one job to another” could be a reference to his move from rugby league to rugby union; “the year that Sydney held the Olympic Games” reflects his winning both the World Cup and NRL premiership in 2000; and the rhino once being at the top but falling out of public favour could be a hint to Sailor’s cocaine use in 2006.

BRENDAN FEVOLA

Could Brendan Fevola be one of the masked contestants?
Could Brendan Fevola be one of the masked contestants?

Sailor isn’t the only Australian football legend that viewers think the rhino could be.

AFL great Brendan Fevola’s career also aligns with the clues for the rhino’s true identity.

Fevola, who was sacked by the AFL in 2011, went on to work in radio; and much of his career has been marred by controversy, including allegations of cheating on his wife, gambling issues and run-ins with the law.

Fevola is also the same height as the rhino.

HUGH JACKMAN

Hugh Jackman could potentially be behind one of the 12 masks.
Hugh Jackman could potentially be behind one of the 12 masks.

Fans are speculating that Hugh Jackman could be behind one of the masks — a possibility, considering the actor has won an MTV Award and this year received an Order of Australia.

Channel 10 also revealed one of the contestants starred in a movie alongside Robin Williams, which Jackman did in 2006’s ­Happy Feet.

But we have to admit, it would be a long shot that an Oscar nominee like Jackman would sign up to a show like this.

DAVID HASSELHOFF

Could David Hasselhoff be behind one of the masks?
Could David Hasselhoff be behind one of the masks?

Some fans are predicting that the Hoff could have made a trip Down Under to appear on the show, with the American actor and singer allegedly in Australia during the show’s filming.

KRIS SMITH

Could Kris Smith be a contestant?
Could Kris Smith be a contestant?

Plenty of viewers are convinced that model, TV presenter and former rugby league player Kris Smith could be underneath the prawn costume.

The prawn is most comfortable on stage and has been in the public eye in Australia, the US and the UK — which could reference Smith’s English heritage.

JAMIE OLIVER

Judge Lindsay Lohan guessed Jamie Oliver could be behind the prawn mask.
Judge Lindsay Lohan guessed Jamie Oliver could be behind the prawn mask.

Mean Girls star Lindsay Lohan is one of the panel’s judges, and she speculated the British chef could be one of the masked celebrities.

BLAIR MCDONOUGH

Could Blair McDonough be behind the wolf’s mask?
Could Blair McDonough be behind the wolf’s mask?

Judge Jackie O guessed that actor and Big Brother runner-up Blair McDonough could be behind the wolf’s mask, and viewers were quick to agree.

COURTNEY ACT

Drag queen Courtney Act is a potential contestant on the show.
Drag queen Courtney Act is a potential contestant on the show.

Australian drag queen, entertainer and runner-up from this year’s Dancing with the Stars, Courtney Act, was a strong candidate for the celebrity behind the glamorous octopus costume.

While the octopus was unmasked to reveal Gretel Killeen, Act has been involved in multiple reality TV shows, so appearing on The Masked Singer isn’t completely out of the question.

ROB MILLS

It’s highly rumoured that Rob Mills will be one of the show’s contestants.
It’s highly rumoured that Rob Mills will be one of the show’s contestants.

Former Australian Idol contestant and Neighbours actor Rob Mills is a popular guess for one of the show’s contestants.

Fans are speculating that Millsy could be behind the lion costume.

The hint: “As a young lion, I entered a competition that would change everything” — a potential reference to his time on Idol.

Some viewers are also convinced that Mills could be underneath the wolf costume.

Photos of both Kylie Minogue and Holly Valance — who have starred in Neighbours — in the wolf’s bedroom could also be a reference to Mills’ role on the show.

Mills also starred on The Celebrity Apprentice, with a hint revealing the wolf has “been an apprentice a couple of times”.

Singing isn’t the wolf’s first trade, though, while Millsy got his start singing on Australian Idol.

BARRY HALL

Could ‘big, bad, Barry Hall’ appear on the show?
Could ‘big, bad, Barry Hall’ appear on the show?

Judge Dave Hughes guessed that AFL legend Barry Hall could be underneath the wolf costume.

The hint for the costume’s wearer is: “I’m not the big bad wolf, but I ain’t little green riding hood either”, which could be a reference to Hall, who over the course of his football career was often described as “big” and “bad”.

ADAM LAMBERT

Could Adam Lambert be behind the wolf’s mask?
Could Adam Lambert be behind the wolf’s mask?

Other viewers are speculating that American singer and former X Factor Australia judge Adam Lambert could be behind the wolf’s mask.


HUGH SHERIDAN

Fans are speculating that Hugh Sheridan is the wolf’s true identity.
Fans are speculating that Hugh Sheridan is the wolf’s true identity.

Four-time Logie Award winner and Packed to the Rafters actor Hugh Sheridan is another contender for the celebrity underneath the wolf’s costume, though his appearance in Channel 7’s The Real Dirty Dancing makes it less likely.

ANGELA BISHOP

Entertainment reporter Angela Bishop may have already been outed as one of the masked contestants.

On Studio 10 last week, her co-host Sarah Harris seemed to let slip that Bishop was in fact The Masked Singer’sunicorn.

During the segment, the team were discussing the show when Harris said, “We’ll have to get the office sweep, but you won’t be able to enter Angle because …” and trailed off.

The camera panned to Bishop, who looked uncomfortable as she asked, “Why can’t I enter?”

“Well there’s a lot of talk about you being the old unicorn,” Harris admitted.

Guest host Jan Fran chimed in, saying, “You know too much!”

JESSICA MAUBOY

Australian Idol<i/>season four runner-up Jessica Mauboy is expected to appear on the show.
Australian Idolseason four runner-up Jessica Mauboy is expected to appear on the show.

Since the show’s announcement, Jessica Mauboy has been a rumoured contestant — specifically, as the one behind the show’s spider costume.

Mauboy’s management refused to confirm or deny her casting on the series when approached for comment, and according to the Daily Mail, the 30-year-old’s vocals were a dead giveaway during her performance.

She’s also a two-time ARIA Award winner — fitting in with the hints given earlier this year.

WALEED ALY

The Project host Waleed Aly is a surprising potential contestant.
The Project host Waleed Aly is a surprising potential contestant.

Waleed Aly became a rumoured contestant when Ed Kavalee speculated on The Project that the show’s host could be behind the robot mask.

While Aly denied Kavelee’s claims, fellow host Carrie Bickmore added that he’d been absent from The Project during The Masked Singer’sfilming.

Aly is a gun guitarist and has been known to sing on the mic with his Melbourne-based band Robot Child. Note the name of his band.

The fact that Aly won the 2016 Gold Logie Award only adds to the possibility of him being a contestant.

GORGI COGHLAN

TV presenter and journalist Gorgi Coghlan could be one of the show’s contestants.
TV presenter and journalist Gorgi Coghlan could be one of the show’s contestants.

Regular presenter on The Project, Gorgi Coghlan is a strong contender for one of the show’s masked celebrities.

Coghlan is a classically trained singer and professional stage performer, and was accused by co-host Waleed Aly of being a Masked Singer contestant on the show on an episode of The Project.

After the monster’s debut performance, viewers are convinced that Coghlan is underneath the costume — saying that the monster’s voice is a dead giveaway for Coghlan’s.

One of the monster’s clues is also that her work features “heavy material” — which could be a reference to some of the hard news stories on The Project.

Fans have also speculated that Aly and Coghlan are a double act on the show, performing Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s duet, Shallow,in wolf costumes.

If viewers are correct, it wouldn’t be the first time Coghlan and Aly have performed together — the two did a duet at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s Starry Starry Night Ball, and on a Christmas fundraising CD for the Salvation Army.

CARRIE BICKMORE

The Project<i/>host Carrie Bickmore could also be one of the show’s contestants.
The Projecthost Carrie Bickmore could also be one of the show’s contestants.

Waleed isn’t the only Project host rumoured to be behind one of the masks.

Fans are speculating that Carrie Bickmore — Gold Logie winner and Order of Australia recipient — could be the monster.

CHRISSIE SWAN

Fans are convinced that Chrissie Swan could be underneath the Monster costume.
Fans are convinced that Chrissie Swan could be underneath the Monster costume.

Fans are convinced that radio host and television presenter Chrissie Swan could be underneath the monster costume, speculating that the voice behind the monster sounds a lot like Swan’s.

The official hint for the contestant behind the mask is “I’m split between two worlds, with part of me living in the shadows”, which could reference Swan’s presence on both radio and TV.

NIKKI WEBSTER

Australian singer Nikki Webster could be behind the Spider’s mask.
Australian singer Nikki Webster could be behind the Spider’s mask.

Strawberry Kisses singer Nikki Webster is another contender for the celebrity behind the spider’s costume.

“I love to write, my words have gone all over the world,” is the costume’s official hint, and while Webster hasn’t been in the public eye for some time, she’s now a children’s book author.

Fans also pointed out that her performance at the 2000 Sydney Olympics opening ceremony was heard all over the world.

Some viewers are also convinced that Webster could be underneath the alien costume.

The alien explained that while people thought she “appeared out of nowhere” she’d actually trained for years, suggesting a one-hit-wonder that Webster had with Strawberry Kisses.

Her bedroom was decorated with a Spice Girls poster and five hula hoops, which could represent the Olympic Games.

WHO HAS BEEN UNMASKED?

THE OCTOPUS

The octopus was the first to be unmasked, revealing former Big Brother host and comedian, Gretel Killeen.

THE PARROT

Former Australian cricketer Brett Lee was the second contestant to be revealed.

Lee, who sang the Hoodoo Gurus’ What’s My Scene, was the celebrity underneath the parrot costume.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/the-celebrities-rumoured-to-be-on-the-masked-singer/news-story/55977c4c2e256768dde644e031e58696