A version of the BBC's iPlayer service made specifically for digital cable will soft-launch on Virgin Media in May.

A video preview of the cable iPlayer was leaked in December, and the application has been hotly anticipated on the Digital Spy forums.

According to a page on Virgin's website, digital TV customers will be able to access the iPlayer from May by pressing the red button when tuned to any BBC channel.

After the service has soft launched, it will be added to the Catch Up TV on demand menu.

Virgin explained: "There's about 50 hours of BBC shows in Catch Up TV on demand right now. When iPlayer launches in Catch Up TV on demand the BBC folder will be renamed BBC iPlayer and instead of having 50 hours of BBC shows to watch there will be over 250 hours."