COMEDY legend Michael Palin will join a parade of celebrities at a showpiece television festival in Liverpool later this month.

BBC Worldwide Showcase – the biggest event of its kind in the world – is being held in Liverpool for the first time after years in Brighton.

The event sees BBC Worldwide promote programmes to buyers from TV stations around the world.

And BBC Worldwide has confirmed that stars including Palin and actors Hugh Bonneville, Emilia Fox, Ruth Jones and Jessica Hynes will attend the event at Liverpool’s BT Convention Centre.

They are also set to be joined by cast members from shows including Sherlock and Inspector Lynley.

New programmes being unveiled at the event include Attenborough’s Life Stories and Brazil with Michael Palin.

BBC Worldwide is the commercial arm of the BBC. It says the showcase amounts to 20% of its annual sales.

It promotes programmes made by the BBC and by independent producers.

Steve Macallister, president and managing director for sales and distribution at BBC Worldwide, said: “We’re proud to host this flagship event for British TV exports and bring together such an impressive delegation of international buyers.”

Among the dramas being showcased at the event is Sinbad, described as “a thrilling, modern, magical reinvention of the famous legend from the Arabian Nights” by the makers of Primeval and Silent Witness with its star Emilia Fox.

Comedies being showcased include Olympics-themed comedy Twenty Twelve, starring Hugh Bonneville and Jessica Hynes, as well as the Absolutely Fabulous anniversary specials.

Writer and actress Ruth Jones will be promoting her comedy series Stella, which is currently being shown on Sky 1.