Britney Spears played a love-struck receptionist in a tattoo-removal clinic who falls for the main character Ted on CBS’s How I Met Your Mother.

In the New York Post, Linda Stasi wrote: “You’d never know that pop star Britney Spears had ever had a bad day in her life.Now clean and sober and under her dad’s thumb once again, Britney looked as adorable last night.

“On the show, which she filmed in the last few weeks, Brit looked slim, trim and gorgeous. And, more importantly, her acting was nothing short of adorably believable. Good for her.”

Referring to her role in the show, Ms Stasi said: “She’s not that innocent – but she still looks it. Welcome back.”

David Hinckley, writing in the New York Daily News, added Spears showed “she can act”.

“For those who hang on every one of Britney’s career moves, this bold casting decision worked out,” he wrote.