Dallas star Linda Gray has joined the cast of Hollyoaks.
The American actress will appear on the Channel 4 soap as Tabitha Maxwell-Brown, the mother of Marnie Nightingale.
She is set to inject some Hollywood glamour into the Chester-based programme following her character’s husband’s death.
Linda, 75, is best known for appearing as Sue Ellen Ewing, the wife of Larry Hagman’s famous character JR Ewing, on Dallas.
She appeared in the long-running US soap opera from its pilot episode in 1978 and was a major cast member until 1989.
The TV veteran reprised her role when Dallas was revived in 2012 until 2014.
Linda said of her new role: “I’m thrilled to be going from one iconic series to another and canât wait to work with the fantastic cast.
“Hollyoaks viewers are going to love it when Tabby whips up a storm just like Sue Ellen did.”
Bryan Kirkwood, Hollyoaks’ executive producer, said: “When we came to discuss who could possibly play Marnieâs mother, the list was very small.”
He added that Lysette Anthony, who plays Marnie, “has fast become a fabulous soap bitch so having Linda Gray play her mother Tabitha is the perfect fit.
“We canât wait to have an international TV icon arrive in Chester and become part of the Hollyoaks family.”
