American Idol changes schedule due to coronavirus and updates on live episodes
American Idol has changed its schedule and is currently exploring options for its live shows as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The next two episodes of the ABC singing show – in which the top 40 contestants will give a concert performance for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan – will be spread across two weeks, rather than just one.
These episodes, which were meant to air this weekend, will now be shown on Sunday, March 29 and Sunday, April 5 between 8pm and 10pm.
Related: Katy Perry collapses on set during American Idol auditions
As a result of this schedule change, ABC will now run a repeat of Celebrity Family Feud and a special coronavirus edition of ABC News' 20/20 on March 30. This will then be followed by the season finale of The Good Doctor.
As for the live shows, which were meant to air on Monday, April 6, they'll now be replaced by two more repeats of Celebrity Family Feud and a primetime special of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
ABC says it is currently monitoring the situation and "exploring multiple options" for the singing competition's live episodes.
Work on the live shows, which includes rehearsals with the finalists, was suspended earlier this month due to the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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