Monarch of the Glen's Lexie joins Wild at Heart

Monarch Of The Glen star Dawn Steele is joining the cast of Wild At Heart.

The Scottish actress is currently filming on location in South Africa with the stars of the ITV drama, Stephen Tompkinson and Lucy-Jo Hudson, who are both returning for the fourth series.

Dawn will play feisty vet Alice Collins, who has been working as a locum in South Africa with her young daughter Charlotte. Stephen's character Danny Trevanion needs a new vet to work alongside him in the busy animal hospital, but gradually realises he's taken on more than he bargained for in Alice.

Danny is battling to keep his family together following the death of his wife, Sarah - played by Amanda Holden - as the courts threaten to send his stepson Evan (Luke Ward Wilkinson) back to the UK and his real father.

Rosie, played by Lucy-Jo, faces tough decisions over her future as a vet and with fiance Max (Martinus Van Der Berg).

Juliet Mills also joins the cast as Georgina, who is sent to take care of Du Plessis (Deon Stewardson) while her sister Caroline (Hayley Mills) remains in the UK with her granddaughter.

Amanda Holden quit the show at the end of the last series to spend more time with her two-year-old daughter Lexi. Her character was killed off in a dramatic fire at the end of the final episode.