Henry will put on different voices for each day

From 10 to 23 March, the comic actor will be the voice of BT's automated clock.

Henry's Dudley accent will be only the fourth voice to be heard in the clock's 67 years.

"I can hardly believe it, but those good people at BT are letting me be the voice of the speaking clock for two weeks to raise money for Comic Relief. That's right, me, Lenworth George Henry from Dudley in the West Midlands," he said

The clock can be reached on 123 and calls cost 10p a minute.

BT has switched from the usual voice of actor Brian Cobby for two weeks to raise money for the charity drive.

The speaking clock was launched in 1936 and received more than 100 million calls last year.

Henry stressed the time will still be accurate, but callers will be able to hear a different voice for each of the days.

"Wait until you hear what we've done to the pips," he said.

Tanzania

Henry has been involved with the Comic Relief campaigns for many years.

This year he has travelled to Tanzania with chef Gordon Ramsay to cook food for abandoned children, using an outside kitchen and basic ingredients.

He has also been involved in campaigns to drop Third World debt.

The Comic Relief campaign for 2003 is being labelled The Big Hair Do.

It has included a celebrity version of Fame Academy that has featured Paul Ross and Ruby Wax.

The Comic Relief campaign will culminate on 14 March with a BBC One special featuring acts such as Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton.