Jemima Kirke has joined the cast of 'Sex Education'.

Jemima Kirke

Jemima Kirke

The 'Girls' actress has landed the role of Moordale High's new head teacher - a replacement for Alistair Petrie's character Mr Groff - ahead of the third series of the Netflix drama.

A TV insider told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: "The arrival of a sexy woman as head will sensationalise pupils who are more used to a stern middle-aged man running the show.

"But she will prove to be a formidable figure and add to a cast already filled with strong female roles."

The 35-year-old star is best known for playing Jessa Johansson on the HBO series 'Girls'.

Earlier this month, Netflix confirmed filming for the third series was underway, after production was put on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

A Netflix tweet read: "NEWS : Sex Education S3 is officially in production (sic)"

In a clip, Asa Butterfield - who portrays Otis Milburn - was seen putting on a face mask and saying goodbye to his cats as he headed off to filming.

And his on-screen mum Gillian Anderson (Dr Jean Milburn) joked she still had "lockdown hair".

She said: "This is me preparing for 'Sex Ed'. I've still got lockdown hair!"

The show was recently nominated in the Best Drama Series category for the TV Choice Awards.

But the programme faces some stiff competition from the likes of BBC trio 'Peaky Blinders', 'Our Girl', and 'Killing Eve'.

The first two series also starred Ncuti Gatwa as Otis' best mate Eric Effiong, and Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley.