West Dorset’s very own Martin Clunes is in the line up for the Queen’s Jubilee pageant.

The TV star took time off from his holiday to tell the Echo how delighted he was to be involved.

He said: “As far as I know I’m narrating part of the pageant at Windsor and I’m delighted.”

Mr Clunes will be joining Susan Boyle, Dame Helen Mirren, Il Divo and Rolf Harris among others in the line-up performing in the Diamond Jubilee at Windsor Castle.

There will be 1,100 performers in total and more significantly for horse lover Mr Clunes there will also be 550 equines, including ceremonial cavalry units and equestrian performers from all over the world included in the spectacle.

The Royal family will be joined by 15,000 paying fans. Alan Titchmarsh is hosting for ITV.

Mr Clunes has also been busy brightening up the lives of children at Julia’s House Hospice, helped by some of his four-legged friends – the diminutive Shetland pony Jacob and his dogs Arthur Colin, James Henry and Tina Audrey.

Patron of the charity Martin, who plays irascible Doc Martin on TV, arrived at the Corfe Mullen children’s hospice with members of the Buckham Fair committee.

The children’s hospice service is the chosen charity for Buckham Fair this year, run by Mr Clunes and his wife Philippa at their Beaminster farm, and the team chose to hold a planning meeting at the hospice.

The former Men Behaving Badly star is an ardent supporter of the children’s hospice describing it as the ‘pride of Dorset’.

Buckham Fair is on August 19 and includes dog and pony classes, food, crafts and a funfair.