CMCO: Singing contest 'Gegar Vaganza' does away with live audience

The live broadcast of 'Gegar Vaganza' will go on but only registered crew members are allowed in. Photo: Handout

Contestants will be singing to empty seats on the upcoming episodes of live reality singing competition Gegar Vaganza.

The seventh season of Gegar Vaganza premiered on Oct 11 with a roaring audience but that won't be possible for the time being.

While the highly-anticipated reality show will go on, broadcaster Astro is doing away with its usual live audience during the conditional movement control order (MCO).

"For the upcoming two concerts (Oct 18 and Oct 25) which happen to fall within the conditional MCO period, it will continue broadcasting live from Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)," a statement by Astro read.

"However, only registered crew members are allowed at the filming location. This is to limit the total number of people on set at any given time."

On Oct 12, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced conditional MCO in three locations Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya between Oct 14 and Oct 27 after a surge in Covid-19 cases.

After Oct 27, Astro will review whether Gegar Vaganza will have a live audience, depending on the amount of Covid-19 cases then and the ruling by the authorities.

Gegar Vaganza is a singing competition which gives seasoned singers who have stepped out of the spotlight the chance to revive their careers.

Notable contestants on the latest season include the queen of irama Malaysia, Noraniza Idris and Mus May, the former lead vocalist of rock band May.

Gegar Vaganza airs every Sunday at 9pm on Astro Ria (Ch 104) and Astro Go.