Exec: 'We're all behind Mischa'

The executive producer on Mischa Barton's new TV show The Beautiful Life has said the cast and crew are 'fully behind' the actress following her hospitalisation in July.

Production on the teen fashion drama, which premieres tonight on The CW, was suspended for a week after the incident, although execs insisted that the delay was unrelated to Barton's illness.

"We simply needed more time to build sets and to get up to speed production-wise," ep Mike Kelley told DS. "It was simply that. I know at the time it was suspect, with Mischa's illness, but honestly it was about just not having our sets ready."

He added: "I'm a big fan of Mischa. She's a terrific girl, a great actress and I've known her for years - I worked on The O.C. with her - and so sure, you always want the truth to be out there. But she's weathered these storms quite well and we're all behind her. We want the discussion now to be about the show and not what else is out there in the press."

The cast also includes supermodel Elle Macpherson and High School Musical's Corbin Bleu, while Ashton Kutcher serves as a co-executive producer.

> Click here to read our interview with Mike Kelley in full