Missing out on their summer holidays certainly didn’t mean patients on Rainbow Ward at Wigan’s Royal Albert Edward Infirmary missed out on fun, after being paid a visit from Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Jamie and Chuck.
Teen ventriloquist, Jamie Leahey and his cheeky chicken sidekick, Chuck were runners up at Britain's Got Talent final in 2022 and were invited to Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) to visit the children on Rainbow Ward.
Ann Carey, Matron for Child Health at WWL said the visit was a real boost for the children and their families adding: “Being in hospital can often be a very stressful time for children and their parents but being able to offer a diversion and some entertainment for them can mean they have a good experience with us and aren’t afraid to come back, if they have to!”
The 14-year-old from St Helens put on a show for the children, playing peek-a-boo with the youngest patients and challenging the older children in the audience to some tongue-twisters posed by Chuck.
Ann continued: “The children, parents and the ward staff loved having Jamie and Chuck to visit and the children loved being able to interact and play with Chuck and have their pictures taken together.”
Jamie and Chuck, in a video posted to WWL’s social media accounts, said: “It was great to meet all the amazing children and can’t wait to come back to the hospital to see the staff and patients again.”