Victoria Smurfit admitted her alter ego Maud O'Hara would "deeply" love the honour of being the Grand Marshall of the Dublin St. Patrick's Day parade.

Speaking exclusively to before she took to the streets in the role Victoria, 50, said: " I feel Maud would love it deeply, and she would think she should absolutely be chosen every year. And she would want to do it on the back of a camel," she laughed.

Falling in mid-March means St Patrick's Day is usually cold but Victoria says this wouldn't deter Maud who would wear "something very glamorous. Something sheer and floaty. Not a wise choice!"

Victoria was following in the footsteps of Cat Deeley's husband Patrick Kielty, 54, who did the honours last year and she confessed if her mother was alive she would be "thrilled and mortified" in equal measure.

"If mum was still here. She'd be absolutely thrilled and in equal measure probaby mortified," she said. "She'd be like 'you're showing off'. Like 'I'm not'!" she joked.

"I spoke to my my dad this morning, and he's delighted, he's actually quite proud. My kids are bewildered but excited," she said.

Showing no sign of nerves before taking to the streets, where half a million people turned out for the biggest parade in the country, which is part of the annual St. Patrick's Festival, Victoria said she was "thrilled" with the role.

"I'm dying to get out there, and I'm dying to see everybody and be part of part of the centre of our magic," she enthused,

She proved a hit with attendees as she was driven around the parade route in a vintage blue car. She stopped at points to get out and greet the enthusiastic spectators and chat to them.

It was a flying visit for the former Ballykissangel star who was due to fly back home to London not long after the parade ended.

She is set to be busy in the coming months as Rivals season two goes into production. Fans were delighted to hear the Disney+ show had been recommissioned after .

Victoria's character, feisty actress Maud, left her husband, TV reporter Declan (played by Aiden Turner, 41) to return to London from their Cotswold's base so she could reignite her career.

Whether or not their relaitonship can be saved will be just one of the storylines fans are hoping to have resolved when the show returns.