Family Guy will reportedly introduce a major new character in its next season.

Vinnie the Dog - described as "a pooch with attitude" - will be played by The Sopranos star Tony Sirico, according to Deadline.

The canine - a dog with possible criminal ties - will be purchased by the Griffin family from a local pet shop and will also feature in a revamped Family Guy title sequence, with Sirico set to join the show's voice cast in singing the animated comedy's theme song.

Sirico, 70, is best known for playing Paulie on HBO's The Sopranos from 1999 to 2007 and more recently appeared in episodes of Chuck and Medium.

Family Guy star Alex Borstein (Lois Griffin) previously told Digital Spy that she thinks the show could run for "another four or five years".

"The show could get old and stale," she speculated. "Then again, you can have a fresh crop of writers come in and completely alter it. Never say never. But I think another four or five years."

Family Guy airs on Fox in the US and on BBC Three in the UK.

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Watch a clip from Family Guy below:

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