Jennie Garth returns to familiar zip code: 90210

Jennie Garth is reprising her role of Kelly Taylor in the new spinoff of the 1990s TV hit Beverly Hills, 90210.

"Garth will make special guest appearances as her original character, Kelly Taylor, a guidance counsellor at her alma mater, West Beverly Hills High, where our new characters attend high school," announced CBS Paramount, which produces the series for the CW network.

The 36-year-old actress has also starred on WB Network's What I Like About You. 

Hollywood has been rife with speculation about which members of the old cast would be asked to return. So far, Garth is the only one.

Rumours swirled after she left the CBS comedy pilot My Best Friend's Girl last month.

The original series, which starred Canadian Jason Priestley along with Shannen Doherty as twins from Minnesota who move with their family to Beverly Hills, ran from 1990 to 2000.

It also starred Luke Perry, Tori Spelling, Ian Ziering and Gabrielle Carteris.

Toronto's Shenae Grimes, who played cheerleader Darcy Edwards on Degrassi, was also picked up for the new series joining Full House star Lori Loughlin.

Loughlin has been cast as Celia Mills, a former Olympic medallist and mother to teenagers Annie (Grimes) and Dixon.