VETERAN Gary Sweet and Australian television's biggest-drawing female star, Rebecca Gibney, have signed to star in the new series of the Aussie undercover cop drama Stingers.

Sweet and Gibney replace Anita Hegh and Ian Stenlake who will leave at the end of the show's present season. The pair join silver Logie winner Peter Phelps, Roxanne Wilson and Kate Kendall in the long-running hit drama, which starts filming its sixth series next month.

Sweet, whose last starring series role was in the Ten comedy/drama Big Sky, will play the new head of special investigations, which oversees undercover operations.

Gibney, whose hit telemovie series Halifax f.p. was surprisingly axed by Nine this year, will feature in a continuing guest role as a successful criminal defence lawyer.

Stingers producer John Wild sees the addition of the two experienced stars as ensuring the show maintains its popularity next year.

"Having such accomplished actors join the team has stimulated exciting new character directions and story material," he said.

Interior filming of the new season will move from existing Stingers sets at Abbotsford to the Channel 9 studios in Richmond.

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