Pamela Anderson is set to return to Baywatch beach nearly three decades after exit

Pamela Anderson is set to head back to the beach, 28 years after hanging up the red Baywatch swimsuit that made her a global star. The 90s TV icon, now 58, is in talks with network bosses over a guest role in a planned reboot of the drama next year. She appeared in 77 episodes of the original show between 1992 and 1997, which hit unheard-of global viewing figures of 1.1 billion each week.

Now, executives at America's Fox TV are planning a major relaunch of the franchise that ran for a decade until 1999 and spawned two spin-off series - Baywatch: Hawaii and Baywatch Nights - as well as a 2017 film. The reboot will feature a new cast of lifesavers and rescuers based on Malibu Beach, with Fox president Michael Thorn promising the revamped show will cater to a new generation with "fresh stories" and "rising stars".

But he and fellow studio executives will hope that Pamela-who once declared, "I'll always be the Baywatch girl at heart"-also helps win back older viewers with a one-off appearance or even a recurring small role.

A senior production source said: "Nothing is worked out yet. If Pamela says 'yes', she could make a ratings-boosting return as an older version of her character (lifeguard CJ Parker) or even someone completely new.

"The hope is that if she agrees to a comeback, that could open the floodgates to guest appearances by many of the other fan favourites from the show in its heyday." These include original swimsuit stars Yasmine Bleeth, Carmen Electra, Traci Bingham, Donna D'Errico, and Gena Lee Nolin.

The actress's comeback comes after she found love on the set of The Naked Gun, where she shared the screen with her new beau, Liam Neeson. The Taken star described his co-star as "gorgeous" and praised her "silliness" as fans caught their longing glimpses during their press tour.

According to insiders via People, the romance is still in its early stages as the pair are "figuring it out," and their loved ones have seemed to support their union. Among the hundreds of fans who gushed over the Hollywood couple's romance, Liam's son Daniel commented two flame emojis, two white heart emojis, and a water pistol emoji on their latest couple snaps on Instagram.

Similarly, Joley Richardson, the sister of Liam's late wife, actress Natasha Richardson, also shared her support for the duo with a string of red heart emojis. The Parent Trap star died in 2009 at the age of 45 from a shock accident while on a skiing holiday in Canada. During their 15-year marriage, the pair shared two sons, Micheál and Daniel.