Paul Rudd to miss out on live audience for 'Saturday Night Live' performance due to COVID-19 outbreak

Saturday Night Live has been forced to axe its usual live audience for an upcoming episode hosted by Paul Rudd, due to an in-house COVID-19 outbreak.

The New York Post reports that cast and crew are currently in rehearsals, with executive producer Lorne Michaels "trying to hold on" and make sure the show goes to air.

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An in-house outbreak of COVID-19 has thrown production off-course, with "four actors" testing positive for coronavirus, while three other staff have dropped out due to fear of catching the virus, reports the publication.

A source in The Post says that usual SNL hosts Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman and Aristotle Athari will not be present in the show that airs this week.

The result means that host Paul Rudd will miss out on the fun of a live audience, and original music guest Charli XCX can no longer perform.

Rudd has not yet commented on the matter, however Charli XCX took to Twitter to share her disappointment.

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"Due to the limited crew at tonight's taping of SNL, my musical performances will no longer be able to go ahead," the singer confirmed.

"I am devastated and heartbroken," she added, before assuring her fans she'd be back to deliver some "amazing" performances soon.