Status Quo are swapping gold discs for the silver screen - by launching a movie career.

The veteran rock act are shooting their first ever film - a 90-minute action caper - in Fiji, due to be released next year.

The group - led by Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi - will play themselves in the movie, and the cast features former EastEnders star Craig Fairbrass, together with Jon Lovitz who appeared in The Wedding Singer.

Bula Quo!, which takes its name from a traditional Fijian greeting, will include 12 of the band's songs.

It is being directed and was written by Stuart St Paul, who has worked on movies such as Aliens and Batman, together with pop videos such as Duran Duran's Wild Boys.

Quo - whose hits include Caroline and Down Down - made a cameo appearance in ITV's Coronation Street in 2005. The band met St Paul while they worked on the soap.

Rossi, 62, said: "The one thing Quo fans know is to expect the unexpected.

"Of course, Rick and I have already acted in Coronation Street, one of the biggest TV shows on the planet, so this should be no trouble at all - according to management."

His bandmate of 47 years, Parfitt, said: "Once I found out that we weren't going to be shooting anywhere cold, I was all for it. This is an amazing chance for us to do something new and we're all really excited," added Parfitt, 63.

The film also includes actress Laura Aikman, who will soon be seen in Keith Lemon: The Movie.