Star Trek icon Patrick Stewart has been signed up to appear in Ricky Gervais’s new comedy.

The Shakespearian actor, best known as Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard, will play himself in Extras, set in the world of acting.

Stewart has stepped in after Jude Law dropped out because of filming commitments.

Gervais and writing partner Stephen Merchant have created a new script for him, while the episode Law was due to appear in has been put on hold

Other names appearing in the series include Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller, Samuel L Jackson and Ross Kemp; all of whom must endure the attentions of Gervais’s character, acting extra Andy Millman.

The comedy is now being filmed, and airs on BBC2 in July.

A source on the show said: "Ricky and Stephen have written a script that's got lots of references to all of Patrick's work, from Star Trek to theatre and X Men films."

Meanwhile, Ricky Gervais’s official website has been updated with new behind-the-scenes pictures from the set.