Michael J. Fox lands ABC special

Rex Features

Michael J. Fox will return to TV in May with an hour-long ABC documentary about the effects of optimism.

Fox, who put his acting career on hold in 2000 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, will present Adventures Of An Incurable Optimist on May 7.

The show will feature the Back To The Future actor travelling from the Far East to Barack Obama's inauguration to explore what makes people happy.

Since 2000, the Spin City star has dedicated his time to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is the world's largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's research.