British comedian John Oliver is heading to Port Charles, the fictitious town that is the setting for long-running ABC television soap opera General Hospital.

Oliver, the Emmy-winning host of HBO's Last Week Tonight, said on his show in March that he longed to make a cameo on a daytime soap opera.

He said he was jealous of ESPN commentator Stephen A Smith, who has appeared on General Hospital as Brick, the right-hand man to a mob boss, for 10 years.

Producers of ABC's General Hospital granted Oliver's wish. The comedian is scheduled to appear on the show as an undisclosed character for three episodes starting on Thursday, the network said.

"It's a true honour to be a small stain on the history of this illustrious show," Oliver said in a statement released on Sunday.

General Hospital began airing on ABC 63 years ago and has featured unconventional stars in the past, including rock musician Rick Springfield and Oscar winner Elizabeth Taylor. It still runs on ABC and streams on Hulu.

In his appeal back in March, Oliver said he wanted to play a character who would "do something juicy - like murder, or slapping, or being slapped, or being someone's long lost something".

"And ideally, I'd like a dramatic close-up of my face," he added.

"In return, trust me, I will give my all to this performance."