The new series of The Voice will begin recording next week, we can reveal, suggesting that Meghan Trainor may not be able to return as a judge.

The 'Lips Are Movin'' singer, 26, joined the panel of the ITV show this year, taking a chair opposite will.i.am, Tom Jones and Olly Murs.

The coronavirus pandemic meant that the series was forced into taking a break in March but the show will finally return later this month for the pre-recorded semi-final and final episodes.

Trainor has been at home in Los Angeles since the pandemic started and will appear in the two episodes virtually, with a live stream of her face expected to be superimposed onto her judges' chair.

We can reveal that six blind audition episodes for the 2021 series will be filmed in quick succession early next week - hinting that a new judge will be drafted in to replace Trainor as she will still be in the US at the time.

The contestants and judges will be present at the show's studios in Salford for the recordings, although the studio audience will be replaced by a virtual audience, similar to the setup currently being used on Britain's Got Talent.

ITV has yet to confirm the judging lineup for the new series.