Unless you’ve had a child or young relative become seriously ill, you may never have heard of Spread a Smile, let alone know the extraordinary work they do. Spread a Smile is a charity that brings joy, laughter and moments of escape to thousands of seriously ill and hospitalised children every year, as well as to their families during long and often frightening hospital stays.

I’m incredibly proud to be part of this wonderful team of magicians, musicians, fairies, singers, face painters, therapy dogs and even a spontaneous poet. Together, we help distract children from the monotony of hospital life by spreading joy, laughter and positive memories.

I was first invited to support Spread a Smile during the Covid years, when in‑person visits weren’t possible and the charity pivoted overnight to Zoom visits so that no child was left without a moment of joy. Now that we’re fully back to in‑person bedside visits, it’s a privilege to continue being part of something so meaningful. Every child I meet reminds me why this work matters.

I’ve always known I wanted to perform and bring joy to people’s lives, but I never imagined it would be at this level. I can’t fix these incredibly unwell children, I’m not a medical expert but it’s an honour to do what I can to Spread a Smile, even if only for a few minutes.

All of Spread a Smile’s services are completely free of charge and available to children and young people with serious or chronic illnesses under the care of their NHS hospital partners, as well as their siblings.

You can find out more or request support here: https://spreadasmile.org/

Alongside my visits, I’ve also co‑produced two sell‑out charity fundraisers in partnership with Spread a Smile, at The Camden Club and The Bedford raising both awareness and thousands in donations.

Outside of the charity, I work full‑time as a professional comedy magician and ventriloquist. Since 2008 I've produced over 16 musical theatre revues, magic shows, and variety performances, showcasing his talent across a diverse range of venues, from intimate village halls to large town theatres, and even prestigious London stages. I’ve proudly nominated Spread a Smile as a beneficiary at some of the recent events, again helping to raise hundreds of pounds thanks to the generosity of audiences.

Being asked to become a Spread a Smile “Champion” means a great deal. It isn’t about donating, it’s about sharing our personal stories and helping more people understand the impact this charity has. Even £5 or £10, given collectively, makes a real difference. Every pound helps bring us closer to the £2.3m needed to keep this incredible work going.