ACTRESS Maxine Peake has become the new patron for York-based charity, Jessie’s Fund.

She has taken over the role from comedian Victoria Wood, who was patron for 17 years until her death from cancer last year, aged 62.

Maxine, who first came to national attention as Twinkle in Victoria’s Dinnerladies TV sitcom, said she was ‘very honoured’ to have been approached to take on the charity role.

“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,” she said.

Victoria was an active patron of the fund, which brings music into the lives of children with life-limiting illnesses or special needs.

It was founded following the death from a brain tumour of a musical little York girl, Jessica George.

Maxine, who has starred in a range of TV dramas since Dinnerladies including Shameless, Silk and The Village, said: “Music has always played a very special part in my life, as a healer and an inspiration.

“To be able to reach out to young people with complex needs and allow them to communicate through the power of music is a must. What a wonderful and essential charity.”

Lesley Schatzberger, Jessica’s mother and director of Jessie’s Fund, said she was ‘absolutely delighted’ Maxine had become its next patron.

“She first came to national attention as Twinkle in Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies,” she said.

“Like Victoria, her roots are in the north, she has a huge talent but also a social conscience and understanding of people no matter their age, their background or their abilities.

“And I am certain that, like Victoria, she will be a great champion for our work and for the children and young people we work with.”

She added that over the past 22 years, the fund had helped thousands of children with additional and complex needs or serious illness to communicate by using music.

It had worked with every children’s hospice in Britain, establishing posts for music therapists and given young people with special needs in schools the chance to create and perform their own music.