A MAJOR new show is coming to Winchester Cathedral later this year voiced by a host of household names.

Those taking part include Dame Judi Dench, Alan Titchmarsh and David Suchet.

They will be joining forces to tell the story of Winchester Cathedral through the centuries.

It is only the third time in living memory that it has been attempted, and the last show of its kind was in 1974.

Thanks to new technology, a dazzling visual and audio show is being planned for Winchester: Chronicles of Light.

The story will be told through the eyes of some of the prominent people linked with the landmark.

They will include King Cnut, Izaak Walton, Jane Austen and William Walker.

An official launch was held last Thursday (February 16) attended by 50 guests and two members of the all-star cast.

They were the television and film performers Wendy Craig and Bernard Cribbins.

He said: “We’ve had a long day recording and it went well, and to be in this lovely building with such a great atmosphere has been an absolute joy.”

His co-star said: “It is such a fine building and the Chronicles of Light will be magnificent and it will bring so many people to the cathedral.”

Other performers who will be recording vocal input include Hugh Dennis, Finty Williams and John Rhys-Davies.

The cast also features newsreader Alastair Stewart from Bramdean, along with Tamsin Greig who is voicing Jane Austen.

The script for the show comes from Winchester-based playwright Philip Glassborow.

He also wrote the Winchester Passion, which brought thousands of visitors to the city in 2008.

Sophie Hacker, the creative director, said at the launch: “It’s unique in the way we’ll be staging the Chronicles of Light because modern technology gives us a new way of telling the cathedral’s story.”

Several images were projected around the landmark as a taste of things to come before the actual footage is filmed later this year.

The lighting and projection is being carried out by Mark Gardiner, with Terry Braun in charge of filming and animation. Canon Roly Riem is the executive producer.

Winchester: Chronicles of Light will be shown at the cathedral from Friday, October 12 to Sunday, October 28.

Tickets range from £50 for the best seats to £10 for standing tickets, and can be booked on 01962 857275.

Proceeds from the event will go towards funding a new lighting and sound system for the cathedral.