An emotional Kristin dos Santos, E! Entertainment's TV critic, is back on E! News to talk about the shocking death of Glee's Cory Monteith.

For the first time in a long while Kristin dos Santos - E! Entertainment's (DStv 124) noted TV critic and TV news scooper - was back on the air on E! News on Wednesday evening and became emotional when she talked about the shocking death of Glee star Cory Monteith.

Kristin dos Santos whose constant appearance on E! Entertainment and E! News became more marginal the past few years since she got married and became a mom of two babies, was back on Wednesday evening (South Africa sees the latest E! News broadcast one day behind the United States).

Kristin dos Santos was on-air to report on Cory Monteith's shocking and sad passing due to a heroin and alcohol related death in a Vancouver hotel.

Kristin dos Santos who've grown close to the Glee cast and Cory Monteith the past few years covering television, became emotional on E! News and started to choke up on set as she related what sources told her.

"This is probably the first time I've ever choked up on set," said Kristin dos Santos suddenly, her voice suddenly wavering and full of emotion.

"Cory was such an amazing guy and everyone who knew him didn't look at him as a star or this leading man. He was just a real guy. Everyone who met him got that sense from him that he really cared about you. And he cared what you were talking about. And he was selfless. And I'm sorry, but you don't find that a lot in this town. He was so unique."

"He never missed a call time. He was always so professional. He was always so present. This took everyone by complete surprise. It's such a blow."

Terrence Jenkins asked Kristin dos Santos how Cory Monteith's death is going to affect the production of Glee.

"At this point it is such a blow to the cast and crew that they can't even have the conversation yet. I've talked to people who work on the show. He was the heart of the show. His character was at the heart of the show and he was the heart of the cast."

"To figure out what to do with the storylines, how to explain his disappearance from the show, whether it will be addressed or not, and also for the entire cast to go back to that particular set without Cory, particularly for Lea Michele. She met him on that set, they fell in love on that set," said Kristin dos Santos.

BREAKING. Glee star Cory Monteith dead at 31; autopsy scheduled for Monday following death of actor with drug problem history.

Cory Monteith (31) who rose to fame as a high schooler belting out Don't Stop Believin in Glee (currently on M-Net Series in its 4th season) and which turned him, the show and the song into a worldwide phenomenon when it debuted in 2009, is dead.

His body was found in his hotel room on the 21st floor of the Vancouver Fairmont Pacific Rom hotel on Saturday.

An autopsy for the troubled star who struggled with drug addiction and abuse is scheduled for Monday.

Due to his drug rehab stint his appearances in the fourth season of Glee was cut down but he was one of only a few remaining original cast members who would have appeared in the fifth season. It's not clear if Cory Monteith is now going to be photoshopped out of the Glee fifth season cast photo below which was shot at the end of June.

Cory Monteith who portrayed the character of Finn Hudson on Glee left a drug rehabilitation fascility in April, his second time he checked into rehab since he was 19. Cory Monteith was in a romantic relationship with his Glee co-star Lea Michele.

Cory Monteith told Parade magazine in 2011 that he used drugs by 13 and that by 16 he was "doing anything and everything, as much as possible".

"We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate. We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss," says his publicist, Melissa Kates in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic news," says the Glee executive producers and producers 20th Century Fox Television. The fifth season of Glee is set to start production at the end of July.

"Cory was an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones."

The Vancouver police quickly issued a statement saying "an autopsy is scheduled for coroner will be determining the next steps with respect to establishing cause of death, but all indications are that there was no foul play."

Cory Monteith of Glee checks into rehab for substance abuse while the 4th season is still in production.

Cory Monteith (30) portraying the character of Finn on Glee has checked into rehab for substance abuse while the 4th season of the show is still in production with Cory Monteith who will be missing from the last few remaining episodes of which the filming will continue as scheduled.

"Cory is a beloved member of the Glee family and we fully support his decision to seek treatment," says 20th Century Fox Television in a statement. "Everyone at the show wishes him well and looks forward to his return."

The actor has had previous addiction problems and has been in rehab before.

The 4th season of Glee is set to start in South Africa on Thursday 11 April at 19:30 on M-Net Series (DStv 114).