Cream of British acting crop to support stay-at-home holidays

Stephen Fry, Julie Walters, Rupert Grint and Michelle Dockery are to promote the UK as a stay-at-home destination this year in a new holiday campaign.

Incentive Travel reports that the acting troupe are set to tour a number of iconic locations throughout the UK this week, to film promotional videos supporting the 'Holidays at home are GREAT' campaign, organised by VisitEngland.

Airing from March 8th, the actors will showcase some of the biggest events taking place in the country this year. These include the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, the Torch Relay, the Cultural Festival and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Other locations and activities set for promotion are more decidedly low-key. Rupert Grint, best known for his appearance in the 'Harry Potter' Franchise as Ron Weasley, has already been spotted by the papers tearing up the waves in Bridlington Beach, Yorkshire. His endorsement of the location may help to promote holidays in the region, such as caravanning or camping in Yorkshire.

Commenting the importance of the campaign, secretary of state Jeremy Hunt said: "This will be an incredibly exciting year, and the UK will be the very best place in the whole world to holiday.

"It's thrilling that four of our best-loved actors are joining the campaign to get even more of us holidaying at home," he added, according to Mail Online.

VisitEngland's chief executive, James Berresford, meanwhile said that the involvement of the four cherished celebrities "is key in creating the highest profile campaign this country has seen in terms of boosting domestic tourism".