American Idol is to resume production with a new format as the competition enters its live stages.

The ABC singing contest had been due to begin the live shows on April 6 but filming was brought to a halt last month due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the US more than any other country in the world.

Instead the network has been rationing out its pre-recorded qualification shows to fill the gap but has now developed an 'at home' format to enable the contest to continue.

Ryan Seacrest will host the live shows from his home in Los Angeles, with judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan all offering their critiques from their respective abodes.

The top 20 contestants will also be performing from home, with viewers voting for their favourites as usual - although it remains unclear how this will be achieved from a production standpoint.

The live shows will kick off on Sunday, April 26.