A CONSULTANT oncologist at a Lancashire hospital has taken part in one of the country’s most-loved TV shows.

Dr Alison Birtle, who works at Royal Preston Hospital, took to the stage with Michael Ball in the Royal Variety Show as part of the NHS Voices of Care Choir, to sing a moving rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Filmed at Blackpool’s Opera House, Dr Birtle was joined by colleagues from other trusts, including Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Dr Birtle said: “It was an honour to represent both the NHS and our hospitals at such a prestigious event after this year, which has been challenging to say the least.

“I was also lucky enough to perform on the number one single with Captain Sir Tom Moore and Michael Ball back in May and on the video.

“When there was a request for the choir to perform on the Royal Variety Show, I couldn’t pass such an exciting opportunity up.

“It was such a wonderful day.”

The NHS Voices of Care Choir was put together by music producer James Hawkins.

This year’s show, hosted by comedian Jason Manford, played to a virtual audience for the first time and was broadcast from Blackpool for only the third time in its 108-year history.

The show will air on ITV tomorrow at 8pm.