Hayden Panettiere's lesbian kiss set to ratings slump

TV producers have ways and means of boosting ratings - and this is one of them.

In our sneak preview, Hayden Panettiere, aka Claire Bennet, in seen in the throes of a lesbian kiss with co-star Madeline Zima, who plays her room-mate Gretchen.

It will feature in the fourth season of the cult TV series, Heroes, which returned to U.S. screens last month.

Passionate: Hayden Panettiere (Claire Bennet, left) enjoys a lesbian kiss with her co-star Madeline Zima, who plays her college room-mate Gretchen in Heroes

But with falling ratings, the timing of this clip is opportune, to say the least.

This week's episode of the sci-fi programme hit a new series low for American channel NBC, pulling in just 5.14million - a drop of around 410,000 on the previous week.

Season Four is due to return to BBC2 later this year and sees indestructible cheerleader Claire start college where she shares a room with Gretchen.

Hayden revealed that the naughty girl-on-girl storyline was her idea.

Dressing to impress: The sultry scene will feature in the forthcoming fourth season of the cult show, which is set for UK screens later this year

She said: 'I kinda threw it out there. The writers put you in relationships and I was like, "Can I just be with a girl or something? Let's do that."

'So they took it and ran with it.' In the forthcoming storyline, Claire embarks on a bit of sexual experimentation with her college room-mate.

And petite blonde Hayden loved filming her lesbian lip-lock.

She said: 'She's a great girl and we have a blast.'

Ratings boost: The new series started airing in the U.S. last month but viewing figures dropped by around 410,000 for this week's episode

Bikini-clad Hayden Panettiere celebrates birthday with a pool party in LA

Heroes star Hayden Panettiere celebrated her 19th birthday with an impromptu pool party in Los Angeles yesterday.

The actress certainly looked to be in the festive spirit, slipping into a spangled gold bikini for the occasion.

She accessorised her two-piece ensemble with a gold 'Rock Star' pendant, a homemade purple party hat and 'Happy Birthday' tiara.

Birthday girl: Hayden Panettiere, who turned 19 last week, continued celebrations with a pool party in LA

The actress, who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in the hit show, occasionally cooled off in the pool throughout the afternoon, at one point bringing her Labrador in for a dip.

Hayden, who dates co-star Milo Ventimiglia, 31, has been busy filming the next installment of the hugely popular superhero drama.

She promises the third season will not disappoint fans.

'Everyone's so excited about it,' she says. 'It's the same action, the same high-intensity as the first season.'

Doggy paddle: Hayden takes her reluctant Labrador for a swim

Heroes star Hayden Panettiere's father arrested for 'beating up her mother'

The father of Heroes star Hayden Panettiere has been arrested for allegedly striking her mother.

Alan Panettiere was taken into police custody in Los Angeles this morning where he is being held on domestic violence charges.

He allegedly hit wife Lesley - who is her daughter's manager - in the face during an argument shortly after the family attended a party at Eva Longoria's LA restaurant Beso according to reports in the US.

Arrest: Hayden Panettiere's father Alan (right) is being held by police after allegedly beating her mother Lesley (far left)

A police spokesperson confirmed the arrest to People.com, revealing that Alan felt that his wife had 'disrespected' him.

'There was a domestic argument between the mother and father,' Sgt. Scott Wolf of the West Hollywood sheriff's office said.

'He got upset and struck the mother in the face one or two times on the left cheek which caused some bruising.

Family drama: The actress at the Whaleman Foundation Benefit in Los Angeles last night, just hours before her father's arrest

The mother called police shortly before 3 am, and Mr. Panettiere was taken into custody,' he said.

Officers reportedly took pictures of visible marks on Lesley Panettiere's face.

Her husband is currently being held on £25,000 bail and has not yet been released.

It is not yet known if the 18-year-old star and her brother Jansen, 13, were at home during the incident.