NYPD Blue, and L.A Law actor Jimmy Smits is to join the cast of Emmy award winning show, The West Wing.

The actor will play a Houston congressman who has his sights set on the presidency

Critics of the show, which whilst in it's sixth season has seen a fall in it's ratings, had been told by NBC executives recently that the show would be 'shaken up'.

The news follows the recent announcement that M*A*S*H star, Alan Alda will also be joining the cast.