Actress cooking up a treat for hospice

QUIZ test: Lesley Nicol, who plays cook Mrs Patmore in “Downton Abbey”, will be hoping to win thousands of pounds for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice on “All-Star Family Fortunes”

New Dr Kershaw’s patron on TV quiz
A DOWNTON Abbey star is helping to bring fortune on Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Lesley Nicol — who plays cook Mrs Patmore in the hit television drama — is becoming a patron for the Royton hospice.

The actress spoke of her excitement at visiting Royton — and how she will bid to win big money for the charity on All-Star Family Fortunes.

Filming for the quiz show, hosted by Vernon Kay, takes place this weekend and she could pocket up to £30,000, which would be split between the hospice and another chosen cause.

Lesley - who lived in Lees during the 1980s and has performed at the Oldham Coliseum on several occasions - said: “I am so looking forward to meeting everyone at the hospice. With Downton Abbey taking off like it has, I hope we can give it the exposure it deserves. I just want to help in any way I can.”

The Irlam-raised actress, who now lives in London, is best known for her appearances in Blackadder and hit Manchester film East is East, as well as a string of TV dramas.

On the popularity of Downton Abbey — which recently bagged awards at the Golden Globes and the National Television Awards — Lesley said: “It’s all a bit crackers isn’t it? I have been made to have a Twitter account and I can’t believe where some of the people are from who are following me.”

Hospice appeals manager Lisa Pearson is delighted Lesley is supporting the hospice on TV.

She said: “We are so honoured to have her as a new patron, as people like Lesley, John Henshaw and Michelle Marsh, who also support us, are in the public eye. Any publicity is great and helps towards getting money for the running of the hospice.”
The ITV quiz show will be aired later this year.