[Kerry]

Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed that stars Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will not appear in the show's fourth season.

Murphy confirmed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the trio's alter egos Rachel Berry, Finn Hudson and Kurt Hummel will graduate at the end of season three.

Murphy explained: "You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticise you for not being realistic, or you can be really true to life and say when they started the show they were very clearly sophomores and they should graduate at the end of their senior year."

He added that "more characters are leaving when staying" when the season ends.

Murphy also confirmed that Colfer and Michele had been involved in the plans, adding: "We made that decision and I involved Chris and Lea and they thought that was a good idea.

"They both trust the writing and trust me and felt that it would be great to have an open and closed experience for them to go out while they were on top."

He also added that while he had not yet discussed his plans with Monteith, the actor "knows [Finn] was a sophomore when the show started".

It was recently reported that Chord Overstreet, who plays Sam Evans, may leave Glee after executives decided not to give his character series regular status.

However, an insider said that Overstreet is "welcome" back to the show when filming starts again next month.

Glee will return to US screens on Tuesday, September 20 at 8/7c on Fox. A UK premiere date for season three is to be confirmed.

DS