Shameless star Maxine Peake has been announced as the new patron of Yorkshire based children's charity Jessie's Fund.

Peake follows in the footsteps of her Dinnerladies co-star and former Jessie's Fund patron, the late comedian Victoria Wood, and commented 'I am very honoured to have been approached by Jessie’s Fund to become their new patron. No-one could ever replace the extraordinary Victoria Wood; to be able to continue her work with an organisation she held so dear to her heart is an absolute privilege'.