The late Cory Monteith

An episode in the next series of the show, 'The Quarterback', will be devoted to the late actor - who was found dead in his hotel room in Vancouver, Canada, from a heroin and alcohol overdose in July - and his former co-stars are preparing a moving musical tribute in the shape of the 'Rent' showtune.

Meanwhile, E! News is reporting Cory's girlfriend Lea Michele - who also plays his character Finn Hudson's high school sweetheart, Rachel Berry - won't appear until the final act of the special episode, where she will perform a "limited but incredibly powerful" song.

Amber Riley (Mercedes) and Naya Rivera (Santana) will also have solo parts in the tear-jerking tribute.
A source told HollywoodLife.com: "The [episode] is more of a celebration of Cory's life, and the difference he made to us and the fans of the show. As much as it will be [part of the 'Glee' season], it also feels like a stand-alone episode."

Show boss Ryan Murphy recently said they were unlikely to show Finn dying of a drug overdose.
Matthew Morrison - who plays mentor and glee club leader Will Schuester - revealed filming the tribute had helped the cast with the grieving process.

He previously said: "It's incredibly hard. We've mourned Cory, but now we're mourning Finn. So it's kind of like two people in that one person.

"It's incredibly hard and we're staying strong together and I have to say Lea [Michele] has been the most strongest of all of us."