Former America’s Cup contender Peter Harrison has donated £3 million to building a new 120-seat planetarium at Greenwich – as part of the Royal Observatory. The Peter Harrison centre, which opens in 2007, will give visitors a view of the night sky and then take them on a journey into space.

His generous move comes as Madame Tussauds announced the replacement of the old Baker Street planetarium with a celebrity show.

One grateful schoolgirl, Amy McKenzie, 16, said: ‘Madame Tussauds are dummies allowing themselves to be in thrall to so-called celebrities. It’s unlikely they’ll boil up any wax to honour Harrison – a person who really should be celebrated.’