A TV comedian is to play a fundraising gig in aid of a weekly newspaper’s 200th anniversary charity appeal.

Michael McIntyre, picture left, will host the show at the Hammersmith Apollo, in London, at the end of February to raise cash for the Wiltshire Gazette & Herald’s ‘200 appeal’.

The campaign, launched last month, aims to raise £100,000 to fund eight carers who will work with families of children with life limiting illnesses across Wiltshire.

It is being run in conjunction with charity Julia’s Hose, of which McIntyre is a prominent supporter.

A previous gig for the charity at Salisbury City Hall in June sold out within two hours and raised enough money to fund a nurse.

McIntyre hosts his own programme on BBC1 called Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and has previosuly served as a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

He has also featured in BBC comedy show Live at the Apollo, filmed at the Hammersmith venue.

Gazette & Herald editor Gary Lawrence said: “Michael McIntyre has been a long-standing and committed supporter of Julia’s House for some time now and has already performed one gig in aid of the charity in Salisbury.

“We’re absolutely delighted that Michael, who lives on the Gazette’s patch, is once again being so generous. This is a fantastic fillip for the appeal and for Julia’s House. He is a star in every sense of the word.”