Sheridan Smith signs up for Mr Stink

Here come the curls: Sheridan Smith as Hedda Gabler (Jay Brooks)

Gavin and Stacey star Sheridan Smith has joined the cast of BBC1's adaptation of David Walliams's book Mr Stink.

Smith will play wannabe MP Mrs Crumb, the mother of young heroine Chloe who befriends a whiffy tramp in the best-selling children's tale.

She will be joined by comedian Johnny Vegas, who has been added to the one-hour film, playing her husband Mr Crumb.

Olivier Award-winning Smith, 31, has recently been seen in ITV's drama Mrs Biggs, playing the wife of great train robber Ronald Biggs. She is also known for Two Pints Of Lager, as well as her stage roles in Legally Blonde and Rattigan's The Flare Path.

She is currently playing the title role in Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic.

Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville was recently announced in the lead role as the homeless but refined Mr Stink who goes to live in lonely Chloe's shed. Walliams will also make an appearance playing the prime minister after notably playing a fawning aide to the PM in his hit comedy Little Britain.

Smith said: "David is such a brilliant writer, and the character just jumped off the page when I read it. I can't wait to work with Hugh and Johnny."

The book by Walliams, who has worked with Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye to adapt the tale, has sold more than a quarter of a million copies.

Chloe's "perfect" younger sister Annabelle is being played by Isabella Blake-Thomas, who appeared as Violet-Elizabeth Bott in the BBC's Just William adaptations two years ago.

The BBC is working with Walliams's production company on the family story, expected to be screened around Christmas.

Mr Stink was Walliams's second children's book and was shortlisted for a Blue Peter award for the best book of the past decade, but lost out to Diary Of A Wimpy Kid.

PA