Pixie Lott to join cast of BBC1 drama Inspector George Gently

Pixie Lott has landed her first television acting role in Inspector George Gently alongside Martin Shaw. (Getty Images)

Chart-topping star Pixie Lott is joining the cast of BBC1 drama Inspector George Gently.

The "Mama Do" singer will play a holiday camp entertainer in a feature-length film for the detective drama series, which stars Martin Shaw as the title character.

She will begin filming in Northumberland next month for her appearance in the show, set in 1969, playing Megan, a worker at the Blue Bird holiday camp.

Producer Matthew Bird was impressed by her performance in a promotional film for the NHS organ donation campaign in which she and Rowan Atkinson recreated the Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers song "Goodness Gracious Me".

He said: "Pixie was very excited about joining the cast and we are delighted that Pixie is to make her TV acting debut in Inspector George Gently - we know she will bring something very special to the role."

The new film is the second feature-length episode which sees Gently and his sidekick Bacchus (Lee Ingleby) sent to a holiday camp to investigate after the body of one of the entertainers is washed up nearby.

Lott said: "I love the fact that Inspector George Gently is a period drama set in the Sixties and I can't wait to play the role of Megan.

"It will be great to be filming in the North East, and getting to play a role that gives me a real feel for the period."

PA