Letterman blackmail inspires 'Law' ep

The blackmail scheme against David Letterman has inspired an upcoming instalment of Law & Order.

The long-running NBC show will reportedly offer a different tact for its fictionalised account of the US chatshow host's recent on-air admission. Letterman confessed that he had sexual relationships with female members of his staff and was the target of an alleged extortion plot because of the affairs.

The episode will switch the talkshow presenter from male to female and utilise elements of series The View as well, The Wrap reports.

According to a casting call released yesterday, Law & Order producers are seeking an actress to portray Vanessa Carville, a "well known celebrity talkshow host, married with children, [who presents] along with a panel of other women".

The casting breakdown also states that the character is to be lesbian or bisexual and has "had a series of short-lived affairs with some of the [female] employees on the show and up until now has managed to keep them off the radar".

It continued: "Now she has been approached by a blackmailer who threatens to expose private photos and emails of hers unless she pays $3m (£1.8m)."

A recent episode of Law & Order was reportedly inspired by Jon and Kate Gosselin and Nadya 'Octomom' Suleman.