Hollyoaks Patron for Pride

HOLLYOAKS STAR APPOINTED PATRON OF MANCHESTER PRIDE

Hollyoaks favourite Kieron Richardson has been appointed a patron of Manchester Pride.

The former Dancing on Ice star will represent the city’s biggest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival throughout the year and during its ten-day programme of events in August – which includes the Bank Holiday ‘Big Weekend’.

Speaking of his appointment, Kieron Richardson said: “I am honoured to have been asked to get involved.  Being a Manchester lad it’s exciting to be involved in something so central to Manchester’s culture.  I hope I can bring something fun, fresh and exciting to the table and I look forward to working with fellow patrons Antony (Cotton) and Christopher (Biggins).”

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, added: “The patrons play an important part in the success of Manchester Pride – helping to promote the cause and act as figureheads for our charity work.  We are delighted to be welcoming Kieron on board. As a young gay man playing a gay role in a national soap, he has helped to raise awareness of the issues facing the LGBT community.”

Kieron’s fellow patrons are: Coronation Street actor, Antony Cotton; former American basketball star, John Amaechi; actor and ‘king of the jungle’, Christopher Biggins; Queer as Folk actor and theatre director, Adam Zane; Lip Service actress, Heather Peace; ‘Allo Allo’ star, Arthur Bostrom; singer songwriter, Claire Mooney and former Rembrandt Hotel owner, Peter Beswick.

For more information visit www.manchesterpride.com

Tickets for Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend (Friday 26 – Monday 29 August 2011) are now on sale and can be purchased at www.manchesterpride.com or at various venues around the city. Early Bird tickets cost £15 plus booking fee and are available until 30 June.  From 1 July tickets will cost £20 plus booking fee.

Follow Manchester Pride on twitter @manchesterpride

Published: 2-Jun-2011: (567)