In addition to hosting The Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show on KIIS FM in Sydney from 6am each day, Jackie O is returning for the second season of hit series The Masked Singer.
The show has been a smash across the globe – and it was no different when it aired for the first time here in 2019. Cody Simpson – dressed in a robot costume – won last year.
Jackie says that celebs are clamouring to dress up and sing on the show this time around.
“It’s crazy. People who were at the top of our list in 2019, but said no, have said yes now I’m told,” she says. “I think we’re going to hear – and see – some big names.”
Do you have any idea or are you given hints about who might be in the costumes?
Absolutely none! All I know is that, because of the pandemic, we won’t have any international stars on the show – unless they’re already in Australia. I mean, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are here, right? So is Zac Efron. So you never know who might turn up.
Have you talked to Lindsay Lohan at all about not being able to return?
Yes, we’ve stayed in touch after she was on the panel last year. She’s so upset that she couldn’t make it back to Australia, but it just wasn’t possible. I know she’ll try and watch it from her home. I loved what she brought to the show last year.
We’ll really miss her energy and her crazy guesses. A lot of her guesswork got cut from the episodes last year. So myself, Hughesy or Dannii Minogue would often be like, “Um, Lindsay, no, I don’t think Lady Gaga has come to Australia to dress up as a prawn on The Masked Singer.” Saying that, comedian Urzila Carlson is joining us this year and she’s hilarious.
Did you know her at all?
I’ve interviewed her on the radio and I follow her on Instagram. I’m a huge fan. I think she’ll bring something different to the show because she’s so warm and funny. We’ve all fallen in love with her on set.
Is there any chance, do you think, that your radio mate Kyle Sandilands could appear on the show?
I think it would be very hard for him to hide it from me, but you never know. I’d say probably not, though.
You’ve had to relocate to Melbourne for filming. How hard was it leaving your daughter Kitty at home in Sydney?
My daily schedule is pretty gruelling right now but by far the hardest thing for me was leaving Kitty at home. I’ve only been away from her for a week at the most, and this time I’ll be away for three and a half weeks. It was the one thing that made me unsure about going ahead with doing the show again because, once coronavirus worsened in Melbourne, I knew she wouldn’t be able to come down for weekends. I’m gutted – and she is too, because last year she was on set and she loved the show. She became friends with Dannii’s son Ethan and they’d hang out.
Did you consider pulling out of filming?
I was unsure about going ahead, but then we’ve got FaceTime and Zoom and all those things. We talk several times a day and she’s totally fine – but I’m gutted that I’ll be away for so long.
When you’re not working, how are you passing your time while in Melbourne?
I subscribe to every service there is. Netflix, Stan, Prime, hayu – you name it, I’ve got it. I don’t want to think about what they all add up to each month! I’m addicted to all the Real Housewives franchises. I’ve just started watching Suits from the beginning and I’m also loving Bachelor in Paradise, and I can’t wait for The Bachelor to start. I pretend it’s because I need to know about them for work.
What do you think of Locky Gilbert as the Bachelor?
He is so hot! He’s a really nice guy, too. I think he’ll be a great Bachelor. With Bachelor and The Masked Singer, there’s some really fun TV ahead – and we all need a little distraction right now.
The Masked Singer premieres Mon., Aug. 10 at 7.30pm on Ten.
