'Desperate Housewives' child actor recast

One of Desperate Housewives' child actors is being recast ahead of the show's seventh season.

Kendall Applegate has played Tom and Lynette Scavo's (Doug Savant and Felicity Huffman) daughter Penny since the show jumped five years into the future two seasons ago.

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello reports that ABC is now searching for a new actress to take over the role.

It is not yet known if the casting change is linked to the programme's storyline which will see one of the families find out that their child was switched at birth.

Information about three new characters that will join the show has also been confirmed.

They include Vanessa Williams's character's partner, rumoured to have been named Keith. He is described as being a "hot, sexy, 30-year-old contractor. He's a charming playboy who turns up on Wisteria Lane. Think Mike Delfino 15 years ago".

Returning villain Paul Young will also have a younger bride. Beth, who became Paul's pen pal when he was in prison, is said to be "damaged emotionally but also capable of humour."

New details about Vanessa Williams's role were recently revealed.