The hugely successful singer-songwriter, talent show judge and shampoo-denier confirmed his part in The Last Jedi while speaking to interviewer Ross King on ITV's Lorraine, saying: "I'm not a stormtrooper, but I am in it."

"Now I've said that, I'll probably be out," he continued. "I think the Star Wars people are so strict about what information [is out there]. So me saying that, I've probably just done myself out of a role."

 

The unlikely cameo was first reported by the Sun, which last year relayed rumours Barlow had filmed a cameo at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

A source told the paper: “Gary is a huge Star Wars fan so this is a dream come true.

“The process has been kept top secret, as he doesn’t want anybody to find out.

“His connections in the film industry got him the part.”

Barlow's 'stormtrooper' comment is most likely a reference to Daniel Craig, who donned a stormtrooper outfit for a small uncredited role in 2015's The Force Awakens.

 

The Last Jedi will pick up where The Force Awakens left off, following the fortunes of the mysteriously powerful Rey (Daisy Ridley), runaway stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) and resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac).

Poignantly, it will also feature the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa. Fisher, who died just after Christmas, had already completed filming her scenes before her death.

Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, who was seen only at the very end of The Force Awakens, is also expected to play a more prominent role in the new film, as is Gwendoline Christie's stormtrooper commander Captain Phasma.