Matt Lucas updates 'Shooting Stars' Baked Potato song with coronavirus advice

Matt Lucas has brought back his alter-ego George Dawes' Baked Potato song and updated it with advice about social distancing and hand washing during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Baked Potato song was originally sung by the comedian on panel show Shooting Stars where he was accompanied by a singing spud dishing out some wisdom.

However, for the reworked number he posted to social media on Tuesday he went solo as he sang out the reworked lyrics.

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The new lyrics sung by the TV star include: “If you want to know what is wrong from right, you must listen to what potato say. Wash your hands and stay indoors, thank you baked potato. Only go to grocery stores, thank you baked potato.”

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Lucas captioned the footage: "A VERY important message."

He starred as giant baby George Dawes, the show's scorekeeper, between 1995 and 2009.

Earlier this month, Lucas was announced as the new host of the Great British Bake Off alongside Noel Fielding following on from Sandi Toksvig's departure.

While filming on the programme, which typically begins airing in August, is usually undertaken in Spring the show is yet to announce whether or not it will have to be postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Many other TV favourites have been delayed as a result as soaps including Coronation Street, Emmerdale and EastEnders have halted filming.

Elsewhere, Britain's Got Talent is due to air the auditions that were filmed earlier this year with the live shows taking place at a later date in 2020.