Britain is to get its own version of Hollywood's Walk Of Fame, commemorating some of the top entertainers that the UK and Commonwealth have had to offer over the past century.

Of course the whole thing is being sponsored by ITV, is airing the unveiling live, is being hosted by Chris Tarrant, is having a viewers poll to decide some of the celebrities to be immortalised in paving slabs and is all to coincide with ITV's 50th anniversary.

Even though Ant and Dec are getting a star (no, really, it's not favouritism) to be trodden on the shortlist will have been nominated by an independent committee. From the fields of film, television, theatre and music are a guaranteed number of stars and amongst those are some of the top names in British comedy from past and present. So far, they include Ricky Gervais, Peter Sellers, John Cleese, Billy Connolly, Charlie Chaplin, Tommy Cooper, Stan Laurel, Dame Edna Everage, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbet.

The Avenue of Stars will be opened outside 'the actor's church' St Paul's in Covent Garden and was devised by Michael Hurll who founded the British Comedy Awards. 100 stars are initially due to be laid with more added each year; the only condition being that the named have to have been born in the UK or Commonwealth after 1900.

Unfortunately contention has already arisen beyond, "Why the hell are Ant and Dec getting one?" The daughter of Stan Laurel has not only not received an invite to the event but wasn't even told her father was being honoured. Understandably, 77 year old Lois Laurel is a tad upset that none of the family were asked along to represent the classic British comic.

The three-hour show is to be aired on ITV1 on 18th September climaxing with fireworks along the Thames.