Actress and Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has been invited to roll up at Great Yarmouth and appear as a circus ringmistress for a charity show.

Actress and Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has been invited to roll up at Great Yarmouth and appear as a circus ringmistress for a charity show.

Ms Holden, who sees Norfolk as her second home, has been asked to host a special charity performance during the Hippodrome's Christmas Spectacular shows.

Hippodrome owner Peter Jay issued the invitation after it was announced that Miss Holden was to star in the new BBC One comedy Big Top, which started on Wednesday night.

In the show the actress plays Lizzie the ringmistress at a travelling circus.

Lizzie has to overcome a series of problems, such as a star acrobat chased by immigration officers and coping with unfunny clowns, as she tries to set up the big top every week.

Mr Jay thought that Miss Holden's experience from playing Lizzie would be the perfect addition to a one-off Christmas spectacular charity show to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

If Miss Holden accepts the invitation, she will be following in the footsteps of her ex-husband, the comedian and entertainer Les Dennis, who made a surprise appear-ance at the Hippodrome many years ago with his then comic partner Dustin Gee.

At the end of one show the popular double act, who were dressed as old women, jumped out of the audience and leapt into the Hippodrome's 100,000-gallon water tank.

Mr Jay said that he would make sure that if the actress does accept his invitationj she will not end up in the water tank or be covered in custard pies thrown by the show's Mexican clown, Alonso.

He said: “It would be really lovely for the Hippodrome and Yarmouth if Amanda can come here. I can promise a great day where she will be part of a spectacular show with a cast of over 60.”

Miss Holden is a familiar face in the north Norfolk village of Burnham Market where she goes to escape the hectic pace of London life.

As well as the Big Top, which also stars Ruth Madoc, Tony Robinson and John Thomson, she is well known to television audiences for her roles in Wild at Heart and Cutting It.

The Hippodrome's Christmas Spectacular runs from December 12 to January 3. For information on ticket prices and show times visit www.hippodromecircus.co.uk or call 01493 844172.