David Soul joins Holby City

Holby City attracts up to 10 million viewers

American actor David Soul is to join the cast of BBC One drama series Holby City.

The star of the cult 1970s series Starsky and Hutch will play a surgeon in the hospital-based drama, a spin off of the successful Casualty series.

David Soul became an international star because of Starsky and Hutch

He was picked out for the role by the BBC head of drama series, Mal Young.

The 57-year-old actor is now based in London and has been concentrating on theatre work in recent years.

Mal Young said: "Being a big Starsky and Hutch fan, I saw David recently in theatre in the West End and thought he would be brilliant as a surgeon in Holby City.

"He'll be making his appearance next spring on BBC One."

Soul will play a locum to stand in for surgeon Anton Meyer, played by George Irving in the series.

Soul is also well-known as a singer and had number one hits with Don't Give Up On Us Baby and Silver Lady.

He became an international star after appearing as Ken Hutchinson in Starsky and Hutch, which featured Paul Michael Glaser as his undercover police officer partner.

The programme was first screened in America in September 1975 and was broadcast in the UK a year later.