O'Donnell returns to surgery show

Rosie O'Donnell used to host chat show The View

US TV host Rosie O'Donnell will reprise her popular guest role as Dawn Budge in the fifth series of drama Nip/Tuck.

O'Donnell appeared in two episodes last year as a lottery winner who sleeps with her plastic surgeon.

Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy said O'Donnell would return for "several episodes", starting with episode four.

Mr Murphy said they were also in discussions about a possible spin-off for the character. "The character was so instantly popular," he said.

O'Donnell courted controversy last year after mocking the Chinese on television.

She attempted to mimic the Chinese language on her daytime talk show, The View, by saying "ching chong" several times.

She later apologised, saying she did not realise how offensive she had been.

But she recently left the show, saying she and the ABC network failed to come to terms on a contract renewal deal.