A LUXURIOUS yacht owned by two Dunmow businessmen will soon be boarded by film megastars including Dustin Hoffman and Harrison Ford. Channel 4 chose Harmony II, a 600-tonne leviathan of a yacht, as the venue for interviews with Hollywood A-listers at the

A LUXURIOUS yacht owned by two Dunmow businessmen will soon be boarded by film megastars including Dustin Hoffman and Harrison Ford.

Channel 4 chose Harmony II, a 600-tonne leviathan of a yacht, as the venue for interviews with Hollywood A-listers at the Canne Film Festival, to be screened on the channel on May 24 and 25.

The "mega-yacht" belongs to Dunmow's Alan and Martin Pedley, who purchased her as a wreck and then invested 250,000 man-hours rebuilding her over six years.

Martin Pedley said: "I am delighted that Channel 4 has chosen Harmony II to host its interviews. We have been approached by a Hollywood film company to film her on location in Ireland

"We hope to replicate our success with some more celebrity bookings for the Monaco Grand Prix."

When Messrs Ford and Hoffman board the yacht they are unlikely to be disappointed: no expense was spared in preparing Harmony II, which is packed to the gunnels (and above) with bespoke furniture, carpets and fabrics, all made in the UK.

The 57-metre behemoth of a boat can waft 150 guests along the ocean at speeds of up to 12 knots and has already been on display while moored at Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena.