Kyle Sandilands has been missing from his TV night job in recent weeks, fuelling speculation about his future on the Australian Idol judges’ panel after being stood down by his ARN radio bosses.

His absences across five episodes over the auditions, top 30 and top 21 selections have been left mysteriously unexplained.

The show’s hosts Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie briefly mentioned Sandilands was out of action to contestants during the third episode.

Yet he did appear briefly at the end of that episode conducting an offsite audition which had clearly been filmed at another time.

The straight-talking judge wasn’t sitting alongside fellow “mentors” Marcia Hines and Amy Shark for any of this week’s episodes.

And there was zero acknowledgment of his Idol truancy as beloved 2006 runner-up Jessica Mauboy filled Sandilands’ empty seat.

It is believed the “live” performance shows to decide the top 21 on Monday and Tuesday this week were filmed in a block on the evening of January 20, the day Sandilands ripped into his co-host Jackie Henderson as she attempted to speak about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s astrological chart.

TV Tonight media commentator David Knox said Seven’s lack of clarity around Sandilands was “disappointing.”

“Kyle’s absences on screen haven’t been adequately explained to audiences which is disappointing,” Knox said.

“This comes at a time when the remaining judges tell crook singers they must push through illness, reminiscent of the old adage that ‘the show must go on.’ Unless you’re Kyle it seems.

“Two of those shoot days were split across four episodes, exacerbating his absence, but thank goodness for Jess Mauboy, cheerfully on hand with her own Idol experience.”

Seven’s spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment on Sandilands’ absences, or his future on Idol in the wake of him being dropped from his radio show for his controversial blow-up at Henderson.

There have been whispers behind the scenes at Idol that Mauboy’s seat-warming stints have been a “trial” for a more regular role.

It is believed Seven is yet to have any formal discussions about Sandilands’ future on this season of Idol, and Mauboy is happy to drop in now and again as part of the “Idol family.”

Kyle and Jackie O regular radio guest Guy Sebastian is another obvious candidate to take over any sudden judge vacancy.

And his former co-star Harry Connick Jr, who Sandilands did not enjoy working with, is often in Australia visiting his daughters who live here so could also slot into the role.

Sandilands, who is cast as a much nicer version of his radio persona on Idol, is believed to have filmed for the show recently and may appear in episodes to air next week.

If ARN was to tear up his contract after the 14-day window for him to “remedy the breach” of his “act of serious misconduct”, could Seven’s new owners Southern Cross Media pick him back up again?

It would be a big call to keep him on Idol and return him to the very airwaves – now rebranded as the Hit network but formerly 2DAY – he and Jackie O left for rival KIIS in 2014.

“With Southern Cross Media, Kyle’s former employer, now owning Seven it’s anyone’s guess how things will play out long term,” Know said.

“But I would expect an Idol panel to include a mix of judges. It’s a better look as well as drawing upon different industry expectations.

“This year’s kids, some of whom have some very promising vocal skills, are certainly getting a front-row seat to how showbiz is really made.”