Ritchie's EastEnders wife, Jessie Wallace, will be on the guest list

Richie, who plays loveable landlord Alfie Moon, was offered more than �150,000 by a glossy magazine for exclusive coverage.

But he has turned down the glossy in favour of the magazine sold on the streets in aid of the homeless.

The guest list on 13 March at his home in Denham, Buckinghamshire, will include all his EastEnders co-stars.

The actor's agent, Phil Dale, said Richie had opted for the Big Issue because he had once been homeless himself.

Arrest for vagrancy

"Shane and I were to place an exclusive celebrating Shane's 40th birthday with a major magazine for a six-figure sum.

"However, following a breakdown in negotiations, and having considered other options, we have decided to give this exclusive to the Big Issue for the princely sum of �1.10 as Shane would like to put something back in to society as he was once homeless himself."

The �1.10p gives Richie �1 and his agent 10p commission.

Richie slept rough as a 16-year-old on the streets of Plymouth in 1980 when a job offer fell through.

He was on the streets for two weeks before he was arrested for vagrancy and sent back home.