Housewives actor hurt in accident

Harold plays Teri Hatcher's latest love interest in the show

Desperate Housewives actor Gale Harold, who plays actress Teri Hatcher's new boyfriend in the show, is in a critical condition after a motorcycle accident.

Harold, who crashed his bike in California, has fractured his shoulder and has swelling on the brain.

"We're hearing he's going to be fine," said the series' creator Marc Cherry, "but he's going to be recovering for a couple of weeks."

His character, Jackson, has just been seen for the first time on UK screens.

Prognosis

The actor plays a key role in the eighth episode of the fifth series, leading to a fire which traps several residents of the fictional Wisteria Lane.

Harold had been filming scenes throughout the week before the accident happened, and was due back on set on Tuesday.

The programme's makers have said they will decide on how to proceed when the actor's prognosis is clear, but Cherry said at least one scene would have to be rewritten.

Desperate Housewives publicist Nancy Seltzer said no-one else was injured in Tuesday's accident, but declined to give any further details.

Calfornia's Highway Patrol said it had no more information about the incident.