Expect better talent this season on The Masked Singer

But those worn by the performers on the The Masked Singer look a whole lot fancier than the ones people have been buying from the chemist.

COVID-19 has led to a few changes in the second season of the show - most notably the absence of Lindsay Lohan due to restrictions on international travel.

But having a US star trying to guess the identity of Australian performers they'd never heard of - like Nikki Webster or Brett Lee - didn't make any sense.

She's been replaced by comedian Urzila Carlson, which means along with the returning Dave Hughes, there are two stand-up comics on the "guessing panel".

The Australian version of the South Korean-created show was a surprise success last year, though it wasn't a surprise to Hughes - after all he was just as into it as the viewers.

"I think it's just a really fun format," Hughes says.

"I'm excited to see who's under the masks as much as anyone is. On the judging panel, the guessing panel, or whatever you want to call it, we've got no idea.

"I really think the whole 'who the hell is it?' is the secret to the show."

Even though Hughes is on the same set as the singers, he insists he doesn't know who they are.

"The secrecy is next-level," he says.

"You're completely locked away from any of the singers. They have to walk around with bags over their heads, like they've been taken hostage or something."

There is one thing he does know; the level of talent in season two has gone up a notch.

"I've been told the first series did so well that every singer has put their hand up to get involved now, so the quality apparently is really good," he says.

The Masked Singer premieres Monday, August 10 at 7:30pm on Channel 10