Britney Spears is set to star in a forthcoming episode of US sitcom How I Met Your Mother it has been confirmed.

The troubled singer will play a doctor’s receptionist called Abby who becomes obsessed with lead character Ted.

Britney will film her scenes this week, according to the shows creator Craig Thomas, after attending a recent script reading with the cast.

Thomas told UsWeekly that Spears’ representatives approached CBS “looking for a small part on a funny show”.

Neil Patrick Harris, who plays Barney Stinson in the show, told Entertainment Tonight: "I was shocked that Madame Spears was willing to come and do some acting, she hasn't acted in a while.

"This is a very interesting role - it will be very unlike any Britney we have seen before, and we have seen a lot of Britney recently."

The show will be broadcast on March 24.