Hancock has said she made the decision after being moved by the messages of support and condolence she received after the actor's death in February this year.

"We've randomly selected a number of people who will be allowed to come from those who wrote," she said in an interview with TV Times.

Hancock: "People can be so kind"

The fans will join the late actor's family and friends at the service, to be held at St Martin's-in-the-Field in central London on 4 September.

Thaw died at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer of the oesophagus.

He was one of the best-loved TV actors of his generation, and his death prompted tributes from across the acting and TV profession.

"His death has touched something deep in people, making them feel as though they've lost one of their own, a man whom they knew," Hancock told TV Times.

"It restores one's faith in humanity that people can be so kind," she added.

Documentary

Hancock has been organising the memorial service with the couple's daughter Joanne and the children from their earlier marriages, Melanie-Jane and Abigail.

Inspector Morse repeats still pull big audiences

Among those expected to attend are Kevin Whately, with whom Thaw appeared in Inspector Morse and Dennis Waterman, Thaw's co-star in The Sweeney.

Thaw's family are also to take part in an hour-long ITV1 documentary about his life, to be shown next year.

The actor is still held in affectionate regard for his performances as the opera-loving Oxford sleuth Inspector Morse.

The last episode of the ITV1 show in November 2000 was watched by 13 million people.

Hancock, herself a respected actress and comedienne, was Thaw's second wife, and they stayed together for 28 years despite a brief separation in the 1980s.