The artist, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, has also recorded collaborations with some of the most prominent names in music, including Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel and Prince.

BBC: Kate Bush awarded CBE by the Queen at Windsor Castle

Tuesday's announcement comes nine months after the unveiling of a similar project by Planetary Resources, a company led by space tourism pioneers Eric Anderson and Peter Diamandis.

CNN: 'Fireflies' to scope out space rocks for mining

The collector's item stamps featuring caricatures of Les Dawson, Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, Joyce Grenfell and Peter Cook go on sale on Thursday.

BBC: Comic genius is licked