Sir Sir Derek Jacobi, Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston are among actors who've signed up as patrons for The National Youth Arts Trust, which aims to provide young people from non-privileged backgrounds with access to the performing arts.

Other patrons include Stephen Mangan, Adrian Lester, Grayson Perry and Hugh Bonneville, while Sir Nicholas Hytner is among trustees. Lester commented 'When we look at our young artists we should ask how much talent they have, not how much money'.