Hollywood actor Damian Lewis has been branded "too privileged" to launch a north London school's 50th anniversary celebration.

The Homeland star is due to switch on a light display at 7pm tonight to mark Camden's Acland Burghley School's anniversary.

But former pupils have set up an online petition, signed by more than 100 people, objecting to the choice of 'elitist' Lewis and urging organisers to reconsider.

The actor, who attended Eton College, lives in Tufnell Park, near the comprehensive school.

The petition says that the actor "represents the reproduction of privilege and inequality in the UK" and argued that the role should go to former students such as Eddie Grant, Ms Dynamite, Akala or Lee Thompson.

Petition organiser, City university academic Rachel Cohen, who went to the school in the 1980s, told the Camden New Journal she and other former pupils did not believe Lewis “represents the real Burghley values and therefore should be part of such a landmark celebration”.

Co-founder of the petition, Harriet Yudkin wrote a message on the petition site saying that the school should celebrate its history of diversity.

Another comment on the petition said: "It reinforces the attitude that being white, male and middle class still get privileges even when they have no connection to a particular environment."

Headteacher Nicholas John said that the anniversary party was just one of a number of celebrations and would include a wide variety of people.