James Bond cast and crew members set for British walk of fame
18-Aug-2005 • Bond News
Share the Story
The Avenue of the Stars will be a permanent walkway in London`s Covent Garden, which organisers hope will become a major tourist attraction - reports UTV Live.
At first, 100 celebrities will get a place on the walkway, but further names will be added each year.
The stars, who can be awarded posthumously, must have been born in the UK or Commonwealth for their names to be emblazoned on the walkway on a silver star.
The avenue, set in the grounds of St Paul`s, known as the actor`s church, will be launched in a three-hour live ITV1 show on September 18, complete with a fireworks display on the Thames.
An initial 16 names, which are bound to provoke debate, have been chosen for their impact in the world of entertainment in the last 50 years.
From the world of film, they include Sir Alec Guinness, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers and Sir Rex Harrison, as well as Kidman and Lord Olivier.
Comedy makes a showing with the two Ronnies, Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker, Tommy Cooper, Billy Connolly, Dame Edna Everage, together with Gervais and Cleese.
Singer Dame Shirley Bassey also gets a star with the Rolling Stones the other musical act.
ITV denied favouritism for its presenting duo Ant and Dec, which also gets a place, saying the names had been picked by an independent committee.
The Beatles, John Thaw, Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise and Sir Elton John are also rumoured to be in line for prime spots.
Some of the bands on the walkway, whose names have not yet been unveiled, will perform at the launch event.
The walkway was devised by Michael Hurll, the founder of the British Comedy Awards, and is set to mark ITV`s 50th anniversary.
Chris Tarrant, who will be presenting the show on ITV to launch the event, said: "It`s going to be a spectacular night and will be so intriguing to see who makes the rest of the list and who doesn`t.
"With so many great names to choose from, there are bound to be some surprising omissions as well as names that will raise a few eyebrows".
ITV`s Controller of Entertainment, Claudia Rosencrantz, said: "Avenue of The Stars really will be a lasting tribute to the greatest names in British entertainment and arts, both past and present.
"It`s a great way to celebrate 50 years of ITV".
Dame Edna joked: "St Paul`s in Covent Garden is one of my favourite places in little old London and I am hoping to be laid between Michael Caine and Sean Connery".
Hollywood`s Walk of Fame pays tribute to more than 2,000 stars and runs along Hollywood Boulevard.
The committee that has chosen the first names include BBC chairman Michael Grade; former ITV director of television David Liddiment; Kay Mellor, the writer of TV drama Band of Gold; and composer Don Black, famous for penning the lyrics to James Bond songs such as Diamonds are Forever.
An ITV spokesman said stars could qualify through citizenship of Commonwealth countries and not only through birth in Commonwealth countries.
The first names revealed today:
Lord Olivier
Tommy Cooper
The Rolling Stones
Nicole Kidman
Billy Connolly
Sir Charlie Chaplin
Peter Sellers
Dame Shirley Bassey
Ant and Dec
Dame Edna Everage
The Two Ronnies
Ricky Gervais
Sir Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alec Guinness
Sir Rex Harrison
John Cleese
Thanks to `Kyvan` for the alert.
Discuss this news here...
