The new series of Smallville features the character Perry White, before he became the editor of the Daily Planet. Warning, contains spoilers.

According to John Schneider, who plays Clark's father Jonathan Kent in the series, the character is not quite the Perry portrayed in the comics and films. Instead, he's a drunk who has fallen on hard times and is now working for a tabloid news show.

The actor playing Perry is Michael McKean, the husband of Annette O'Toole, who plays Jonathan's wife, Martha.

"I worked with Michael a lot on that show," Schneider told Sci-fi Wire. "He's a reporter, and he's prying into what's going on with Clark. Of course, I want to keep him away."

The episode airs on The WB on 29th October in the States and is directed by Jeannot Szwarc, who helmed the 1984 Supergirl film.