Amy Winehouse's father, Mitch, is to launch his acting career in a new British film about the music industry, it's been reported.

Mr Winehouse is said to have jumped at the chance to be in the film, which tells the story of a one-hit wonder in the 1980s.

“Mitch has become almost as recognisable as Amy. He’s always on hand when his daughter gets into scrapes,” an insider said.

“He comes across very well when he appears on TV to defend his daughter and the film’s producers like his charm.”

According to the Sun newspaper, Mr Winehouse will play a taxi driver – his real life profession – in the film, which is currently in pre-production.

The reports come two days after it was claimed Winehouse had been filmed apparently snorting cocaine in a pub in North London.

(by Jason Gregory)