Celebrities deliver gifts at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

The television stars paid a visit to Royal Manchester’s Children’s Hospital to hand out presents to patients. 

Past and present Coronation Street actors Catherine Tyldesley, from Walkden; Antony Cotton, from Bury; Simon Gregson and Brooke Vincent, were joined by Preston's John Thomson and radio host Mike Toolan.

All six celebrities are patrons of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which provides hospital care and support to around 750,000 people across Greater Manchester. 

Antony, who plays Sean Tully in Corrie, and Brooke visited children receiving treatment for cancer, leukaemia and non-malignant blood disorders, on the haematology and oncology unit. 

Antony said he was “honoured to be a part of it” and Brooke, who starred in Corrie from 2004 to 2019, said she found it “lovely to come in and see everyone”.

They were dressed in festive jumpers and accessories for the occasion, and to raise money for the charity’s Christmas Play Appeal to fund essential play facilities for young patients. 

Mike and Simon spent their day on ward 84, a secondary medical ward. 

Simon, who plays Steve McDonald in the ITV soap, said: “It was lovely to see all the children, handing out the teddy bears to spread a little joy and put a smile on their faces.”

Mike, from Hits Radio, described the day as “amazing and very heart warming”.

The neurology, orthopaedic, spinal surgery, ear, nose and throat unit (ward 78) was joined by Cold Feet actor John and Catherine, who played Eva Price in Corrie.

John said: "I was so glad I could do this again as the pandemic meant we haven’t been able to do the patron’s visit since 2019. We had a really good laugh with some of the children and they were all smiling.”

Cath, who went to the former St George's RC High School, added how she found the experience “really special”.

Jo Tutchener-Sharp, founder and CEO of fashion brand Scamp and Dude, donated the presents.

She explained that when she was in hospital recovering from surgery she missed her children and wanted something to comfort them until she returned home. This is why she came up with Superhero Sleep Buddies - cuddly comforters with a pocket on the back to hold a photo of your child’s special person to watch over them, even when they’re apart.

Charity press officer, Emma Wright, looks after Charity Patrons and helped organise the hospital visit. She urges anyone considering gifting toys to give a monetary donation instead.

She said: “Presents are great at Christmas but cash donations allow us to do so much more throughout the entire year, which positively impacts on even more children and young people.”