A TV presenter best known for his often controversial talk show has become the patron of a children’s charity supporting underprivileged youngsters.

Jeremy Kyle, a long-time supporter of The Graham Wylie Foundation, has become a patron to the Newcastle-based charity, alongside golfer Lee Westwood and Brian Johnson, the frontman of AC/DC.

He said: “The work the Foundation does to help North-East children is phenomenal and humbling and it is an absolute honour to become a patron.

“This is a cause very close to my heart and I think it is fantastic that Graham enables the money to go straight to the kids who need it.”

The presenter, whose The Jeremy Kyle Show has been an ITV mainstay for almost 14 years also revealed this his first such charitable role.

He added: “I get approached quite frequently but having seen at close quarters the work this charity does and the effect it has on the lives of children in the region, I am delighted to help in whatever way I can.”

The charity was formed by Sage entrepreneur Graham Wylie to help, educate and inspire children across the North-East.

It supports groups, organisations and other charities from across the region by funding projects to benefit underprivileged youngsters.

Mr Wylie said: “We are very proud to have Jeremy. He is a good friend and a great supporter of the charity.

“He has helped us raise a lot of money over the years through his involvement with our charity golf days and as a guest speaker at our annual fundraising ball and I hope that his new role will raise the foundation’s profile and enable us to raise even more money.”