Stars immortalised in steel outside Palladium stage door

Des O'Connor, Tommy Steele, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jimmy Tarbuck and Sir Cliff Richard reveal the Wall of Fame, a new art installation at the London Palladium

Showbusness billings came no bigger than the marquee outside the London Palladium.

Yesterday, some of those to have seen their names in lights gathered there to unveil a more permanent presence.

A Wall of Fame, commissioned by the artist Lee Simmons as part of renovations to the facade of the Grade II listed building, - features stainless steel portraits of Sir Tom Jones and the late Cilla Black, Sir Ken Dodd and Sir Bruce Forsyth, among others. It is intended a permanent legacy to the British and American artists who have starred at the Palladium and as a link between stars of the past and future.

The composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who joined past headliners Des O’Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck, Sir Cliff Richard and Tommy Steele at the unveiling, said: “The London Palladium is a very special theatre for me as it is to millions of people around the world and I hope that our new installation will give as much pleasure to locals and visitors to the West End as it has us.”

Simmons said he had been “inspired by the history of the rich tapestry of performers” who had graced the stage of the 108-year-old theatre.

“My aim was to embrace the presence of the performers and capture an essence of the Palladium stars who have made it what it is today, he said.