Good news, Joan watchers: fresh from celebrating her 80 birthday last week, our favourite Glamazon has announced a return to prime time TV – by way of Benidorm.

Ms Collins has signed up to play a ‘fierce hotel businesswoman’ called Crystal – a not-so-veiled reference to Krystle Carrington, the nemesis to Collins’ iconic Alexis Carrington in her previous small-screen success story, Dynasty – in the cult ITV1 comedy, which is set in an all-inclusive holiday resort on Spain’s Costa Blanca.

'Looking forward to going to Spain to be in #Benidorm,’ Joan tweeted yesterday. ‘And I'm playing Crystal yes I am!! But not the dynasty one.'

It’s fitting that she announced the role over Twitter, given that it was social networking that apparently landed her it in the first place. The show’s creator, Derren Litten, has been wooing the actress in 140 characters or less ever since her sister Jackie tweeted in 2011: 'Benidorm is totally fab. My sis Joan Collins would love to do a guest shot on it. I got her addicted!!!'

Filming on series six is expected to start shortly, so watch this space.