British teenager Jamie Dodd is set for stardom on the back of the new Friends spin-off Joey.

The former Hollyoaks star has been signed up to appear as Joey Tribbiani's cousin in the series, which was announced last week.

His publicist Amber Ross told Chortle: " Jamie decided to reject a contract from Hollyoaks back in February to film the pilot, and he is very happy to be involved.

"No filming dates have been set, but Jamie will be located in the US from September 21.

"NBC and Warner are very happy to have British talent involved and hope the show will be a great success."

The 18-year-old, from the Wirral, originally took part in secret auditions for the pilot last September when producers said they were seeking someone who looked Italian with an English accent.

In March, before the show was commissioned, he told the Liverpool Daily Post: "I was so excited, I can't believe it. "My ambition when I started out as an actor was to try to get into a show like Friends.

"It is just a pilot show to begin with, but hopefully the popularity of Friends will mean it's taken up and I'll be in the series. And if it is taken up then it will be quite a big role."

America's NBC network last week confirmed long-running rumours about the show, announcing that 22 episodes will air in the autumn of 2004.