Froggatt 'nervous about Royle role'

Joanne Froggatt has admitted that she was nervous about joining the cast of The Royle Family.

The Downton Abbey star will play Saskia, the girlfriend of Anthony (Ralf Little), in the show's Christmas special.

"I was nervous, because my family always watches it, so I'm a bit of a fan," she told What's On TV. "But everyone has been so lovely. It's funny [because] I'm playing the newcomer to the family and that's what it felt like for me. But I feel like part of the family now."

She added that it was "lovely" to be part of the hit sitcom, which attracted 12m viewers in 2009.

"I've been a viewer for years, and I think there are parts of it that every family can relate to, even if [the characters] are a really extreme version! It's going to be absolutely lovely to be part of so many people's Christmas."

The Royle Family returns on Christmas Day at 9pm on BBC One.