Michael Gove will juggle his new appointment as environment minister with a starring role in the long awaited sequel to 60s cult classic movie, “Midnight Cowboy”, it was revealed today.

The sequel, which will pick up on the life of failed cowboy hustler Joe Buck after he arrives in Florida is being produced by the original movie’s co-star Jon Voight, who will reprise his role as Buck.

Voight explained that he had made the unusual choice of casting Michael Gove, a serving UK cabinet minister, in the role of an under age rent boy due to his uncanny resemblance to an aged Bob Balaban who originally played the character.

“Unlike Bob, who was just acting, Michael is a genuinely nasty, ingratiating little c*cksucker, and so ideal for the role,” explained Voight.

Voight and Gove first met earlier this year at the inauguration of US president Donald Trump at which Voight, an outspoken right wing republican, delivered the opening speech.

Observers described the pair as having been deep in conversation before disappearing off together and returning looking rather pleased with themselves.

Responding to criticism of why he would want to make a sequel to such a much loved classic movie, nearly 50 years on Voight explained that he had never been happy with either the original’s focus on marginal characters or the overt overtones of homosexuality and promiscuity.

“The sequel follows Joe Buck in Florida where he lives out the American dream becoming a successful businessman, and settling down with a beautiful blonde wife to raise a family,” he said explaining that the Balaban/Gove character also turns up in Florida, as the pastor in a right wing revivalist church.

“No spoilers, but let’s just say that Satan is kept at bay and there are no Johnsons this time round – not even a Boris! He winked.