Comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti has been named patron of Theodora Children's Charity, which trains professional performers, Giggle Doctors, to 'bring music, laughter and magical moments' to over 300,000 sick, disabled and terminally ill children across the UK.

Conti, who discovered the charity after deciding to perform to children in hospital, commented 'I'm delighted to become a patron for The Theodora Children's Charity. Having trained as a Giggle Doctor myself in the past, I have seen first-hand the difference that the visits from these gentle and skilled professional performers make to children and their families in hospitals'.