Actress Una Stubbs is to lead a nationwide search for amateur artists for a new BBC1 primetime TV show - just days after her own paintings featured in the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition.

The star, currently known for her portrayal of Mrs Hudson in Sherlock, has exhibited watercolours featuring her co-stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman at the annual showcase.

She will team up with presenter Richard Bacon for the programme looking for artistic talent, which has the working title The Big Picture.

It is part of the BBC's push to increase airtime for the arts and will also feature the artists Daphne Todd and Lachlan Goudie. The six-part series will crown its winner in the spring of next year. Work from the finalists will feature at an exhibition at Tate Britain.

Stubbs said: "I can't remember being so excited about a job."