Britney Spears recently received psychiatric treatment

The 26-year-old pop star will play a doctor's receptionist named Abby who becomes smitten with the main character, Ted.

The show's creator Craig Thomas told US Magazine the singer attended a script reading with the cast and would film her scenes this week.

Spears will be seen on the show in the US on 24 March.

Thomas said representatives for the singer approached the CBS network about the appearance because "she was looking for a small part on a funny show".

Neil Patrick Harris, who plays serial bachelor Barney Stinson in the show, told Entertainment Tonight he was surprised Spears approached them for the role.

'Interesting role'

"I was shocked that Madame Spears was willing to come and do some acting, she hasn't acted in a while," he said.

"This is a very interesting role - it will be very unlike any Britney we have seen before, and we have seen a lot of Britney recently."

Spears first showed off her acting skills in the widely panned 2002 movie Crossroads and was a guest star in sitcom Will and Grace in 2006.

The first series of How I Met Your Mother was shown on BBC Two in the UK last year.