Denise Welch joins cast of Benidorm

Denise Welch has joined the cast of 'Benidorm'.

The 'Loose Women' panellist - who is currently competing alongside professional skating star Matt Evers on 'Dancing On Ice' - will join her real-life husband Tim Healy on the upcoming fourth series of the ITV1 show.

With Tim currently playing Geordie transvestite Leslie in the comedy-drama - which is set in a Spanish holiday resort - Denise will assume the role of tattooed, short-skirted crime queen Scary Mary.

However, her arrival could spell trouble for an unsuspecting Leslie.

Tim explained: "Scary Mary - who is a black belt in martial arts - ends up drop-kicking Leslie into the pool."

Denise could be getting some of her 'Dancing On Ice' moves from her husband's 'Benidorm' alter-ego, as the 52-year-old star recently admitted she is inspired by drag queens.

She said: "I love drag queens. I'm inspired by them! I've never felt so energised. Attitude magazine said the gayometer explodes when I'm around. My dad was a drag queen.

"Everyone else grew up in McDonalds and I grew up in gay bars. I was that child. My dad was a sh*t drag act. He was a Welch so he used to go out as Raquel. He was shameless!"