'Heroes' to return as three-hour "event"

Heroes will return in the US with a three-hour "event" in September.

Unveiling its scheduling plans for 2008-09, NBC promised a "major relaunch" to boost the third season of the cult series. The show last aired in the US in December before the writers' strike took hold, meaning it will have been off screens for almost nine months by the time it comes back.

NBC programming head Ben Silverman said the event would include a one hour clip/recap show followed by a two-hour season premiere.

The season is expected to air in two halves, each consisting of continuous blocks of more than ten episodes. The first will begin in September, with the second following in February.

Meanwhile, in the UK, BBC Two has scheduled the second season of Heroes to begin on April 24.