Emmerdale cameo role for Jenkins

Katherine Jenkins recently sang at Dame Vera Lynn's 90th birthday

Opera star Katherine Jenkins has said she is "really excited" about her cameo role in soap opera in Emmerdale.

The Neath-born singer will play herself and open the village pageant in a special episode in which the mystery of who killed Tom King is revealed.

Jenkins, 26, said she "jumped" at the chance to star in the soap as she is a huge fan.

She is due to begin filming for the soap next week with the hour-long episode due to air in May.

"I'm a huge fan of Emmerdale and so I jumped at the opportunity to appear in the show," she said. "I'm really excited about filming my scenes."

Kathleen Beedles, series producer, said: "We're really excited about this episode which is bursting with drama, comedy and heartbreak.

"It's a fitting climax to the Tom King storyline which has surpassed all our expectations."

Whodunit? Tom King was murdered on his wedding day

The soap's whodunit mystery began at Christmas when millionaire businessman Tom King was murdered on his wedding day.

More than 120,000 people have since visited a Who Killed Tom King interactive channel set up to allow fans to play detective.

ITV were not giving away exact details of the mezzo-soprano's role but what is clear is that she will open an "eventful" Emmerdale village pageant.

Warring characters Katie Sugden and Jo Stiles will also end up in a cat fight during the pageant's beauty contest.

Jenkins joins a host of stars who have landed cameo roles in soaps including singer Tony Christie who sang a duet while playing himself in Emmerdale.

In EastEnders, Little Britain's David Walliams played a fake registrar at the wedding of Alfie Moon and Kat Slater while actor Sir Ian McKellen and comic Peter Kay have both made guest appearances in Coronation Street.