The Voice prerecords 'live' show

Kylie Minogue on The Voice. Picture: Supplied

Despite the fact that it is now heading into the live rounds, tonight's episode of The Voice has instead been pre-recorded.

Production sources have claimed it was necessary to film the episode yesterday, 24 hours before it goes to air, due to a last-minute decision that placed its sister show, The Voice Kids, into the Sunday night timeslot.

However, plans were already locked in to film the adult show's first live performances at the weekend and could not be rescheduled to the following day.

The series will be shown "as live" tonight and will reportedly go back to being broadcast in real time from next week.

The show stars will.i.am, Ricky Martin, Joel Madden and Kylie Minogue as coaches.