Project creator Seth MCFarlane is a huge Star Trek fan and he was thrilled when Stewart suggested Spiner for a role in the new TV show, and the Brit is hoping his old pal will get to sing onscreen.

He tells WENN, "I thought at first using Brent would look too cute and it might look desperate getting people to look at the show for other reasons. But the idea of using Brent as the pianist was in part mine because he has a wonderful singing voice.

"I hope before the series is over we will see him playing piano and singing as well."

Spiner played Data to Stewart's Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series from 1987 to 1994 and in the films Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis.