The Masked Singer: Sophie Monk, Kate Miller-Heidke and more rumours

Sophie Monk long vowed to never sing again – but that was definitely her on last night’s Masked Singer. Here’s who else is behind the disguises.

Six celebrities sang for their supper in last night’s season premiere of The Masked Singer – and based on the first reveal, the star power has definitely been upped this year.

Last night’s first unmasked celeb was international sports superstar Mark Philippoussis.

So who were the other five stars who got to keep their masks on last night? Educated guesses and a bunch of spoilers ahead …

THE QUEEN IS KATE-MILLER HEIDKE

This one’s easy: It’s all about the voice. Miller-Heidke tried valiantly to disguise her talents in the first part of her performance of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights last night, but by the chorus, she was swooping and soaring operatically as only she can do.

Here’s the Queen:

And here’s Miller-Heidke’s incredible performance of Zero Gravity at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest:

(SHE WAS ROBBED). Onto the Queen’s clues:

“I was expected to be known by my Italian works, but turned away and followed my own royal path by popular demand.”

Kate is a classically trained opera singer but turned away from the genre she’d studied to pursue a pop career.

The Queen performs Blinding Lights.

Kate Miller-Heidke. Pictures: Dominic Lorrimer

“Yes, I have known the highs and the lows, sometimes at the same time.” Remember that showstopping Eurovision performance of Zero Gravity, with Kate swinging from the ceiling attached to a pole? The song was also deeply personal: She wrote it about her experience with post-natal depression.

“Thirteen times I’ve been a bridesmaid, but never the bride.” Two clues here: Miller-Heidke and husband Keir Nuttall wrote all the songs for the Muriel’s Wedding stage musical. And 13 times the bridesmaid? Just look at Kate’s ARIA Awards history, as pointed out by many on social media overnight:

Sort yourselves out, ARIA Awards.

The only question left: Why would a woman with one of this country’s most distinctive and unique voices even bother signing up for The Masked Singe r? Miller-Heidke just last week announced the release of her first album in six long years, Child In Reverse, out in October. Deidre Chambers, what a coincidence!

THE DRAGONFLY IS SOPHIE MONK

Once again, it’s all about the voice. Compare the Dragonfly’s rendition of True Colours:

… with Monk’s solo ballad hit, One Breath Away:

Same voice, yeah? Need more convincing? Let’s break down a few clues:

“I’m always on the move, stopping briefly but moving on again.”

Sophie was born in London, grew up on the Gold Coast, moved to Sydney for Bardot, lived in LA for a few years and is now back in Australia.

“But that is my reality. Am I a triple threat? Quadruple? Quintuple?”

She got her start as a singer on reality TV, before moving into acting, presenting, radio, and a whole lot of other entertainment industry gigs.

The Dragonfly sings True Colours.

Oh hi Sophie. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty

“Being well-known isn’t always wonderful. I’ve had my share of tumbles in life. And they can be embarrassing, low blows.”

Soph’s endured her fair share of public heartbreak: Failed engagements to Benji Madden and Jimmy Esebag, and a high-profile split from her Bachelorette pick Stu Laundy.

“But you just have to laugh and move on. After all, it’s not a disaster, like the Titanic.” The Titanic reference seems obscure – but consider this old Sophie Monk interview quote: “My ideal man is … Leonardo DiCaprio – he’s so hot, so talented. I want his babies.”

UPDATE: Also, as pointed out by Sophie’s former Bardot bandmate Sally Polihronas on Instagram - check out Sophie’s initial audition for Bardot, singing the theme from Titanic:

Even the Dragonfly’s song served as a pretty big clue: Kasey Chambers scored a top five hit with her 2003 cover of True Colours. Chambers and Monk are good friends, and in recent years the only time you will have heard Monk sing is on social media with her country music star pal.

Plus, even Monk’s old Bardot bandmates Tiffani Wood and Sally Polihronas think it’s her:

Sally from Bardot knows what's up.

Now all that’s left to discuss is Sophie Monk signing up for The Masked Singer when she passed on this year’s mini-Bardot reunion. That hurts.

THE GOLDFISH IS CHRISTINE ANU

The Goldfish.

Christine Anu.

The Masked Singer threw a lot of sporting-themed clues at the Goldfish last night – but as soon as she opened her mouth to sing, it was clear this was a professional singer.

The song choice was smart – we’re not used to hearing Anu singing a trop-bop like Post Malone. But check that high note at 1:10:

And here’s Anu singing Natural Woman on Studio 10 last year:

“People say goldfish have short memories. I resent that. I have an alphabetical knowledge of my history.”

Nowadays, Anu is a presenter on ABC Radio.

“I did something unforgettable in Sydney in 2000.”

We all remember Christine Anu’s Sydney Olympics performance of My Island Home, right?

THE FRILLNECK IS EDDIE PERFECT

Here’s the Frillneck singing Jessie J’s Bang Bang:

And here’s Perfect singing at the 2011 Melbourne Comedy Festival:

There were a lot of allusions to working hard for a long time behind the scenes in the Frillneck’s clues – Perfect’s songwriting career has taken him to Broadway, where he composed Beetlejuice and King Kong.

The Frillneck performs Bang Bang.

Eddie Perfect. Picture: Stuart Ramson

“I’m not someone who works 9 to 5.”

Perfect was due to return to the Australian stage this year in the 9 To 5 musical before coronavirus nixed those plans.

“I just want everyone to get a sporting chance. But knocking down tall poppies can be fun too.”

Perfect wrote and starred in Shane Warne: The Musical, about perhaps Australian sport’s biggest tall poppy.

THE PUPPET IS SIMON PRYCE

It’s been a while since I’ve listened to The Wiggles, so this was a tricky one last night. But here’s the Puppet singing Elvis’ Burning Love:

And here’s Red Wiggle Simon performing – same voice, yah?

Many of the Puppet’s clues have me stumped, too – there are cryptic references to the Magna Carta and to 1964, to “ties that have played an important part of my life”.

But, “That makes me very fit for my job” is an easy one: The super-fit Bryce has even appeared as a contestant on Australian Ninja Warrior.

The Puppet performs.

Red Wiggle Simon Pryce. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian

But as with last year, the clues are really window dressing compared to the biggest giveaway for each performer: The voice. It’s all in the voice.

The Masked Singer continues 7.30pm tonight on Ten with six more masked stars performing – and one more contestant’s true identity revealed. I’ll be liveblogging the episode as it airs tonight – check back for all the performances, clues and guesses as they happen.

Think I’ve got one or more of these guesses dead wrong? Let me know in the comments section below...