Saunders, who starred in the popular British sitcoms "French and Saunders" and "Absolutely Fabulous", has also written programmes including '"Jam and Jerusalem".

The 53-year-old competed in show jumping as a youngster, and has long held an interest in the sport.

As an ambassador for the equestrian discipline, Saunders said that she would be aiming to "reintroduce the public to the fun of the sport and make them familiar with the characters".

"I was hooked on show jumping as it was covered widely on television and was hugely entertaining," she added.

"The riders were household names and the horses were personalities, too."

Saunders has already been involved with British Showjumping at the recent FEI World Cup qualifiers at Olympia, and has told the BBC that she intends to make a documentary about the Olympic hopes and horses in the sport for 2012.

The jumping competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games runs from August 4 to 8 in the picturesque surroundings of Greenwich Park.

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