It has been revealed that Kirstie Alley, best known for playing Rebecca Howe in 147 episodes of the hit American sitcom Cheers, will be playing the central role in the US remake of The Vicar of Dibley.

Alley, who's long list of TV credits also include "Veronica's Closet" and Star Trek, has signed up to play Dawn French's role in the pilot episode Fox Television are currently producing.

The series, based on Richard Curtis' original scripts, has been renamed "The Minister Of Divine". It will be set in deep south Georgia, in a town called Divine and focus more on the vicar's rebellious past however many other elements will remain the same.