“It will air in the coming days” Emmerdale fave Jay Kontzle new BBC role as he opens up on emotive cause close to his heart

Emmerdale’s Jay Kontzle at the BBC

An Emmerdale star is set for a special role away from the ITV soap.

Emmerdale actor and Kinship charity ambassador Jay Kontzle will present a BBC Radio 4 appeal on behalf of the national charity. It will be broadcast on Sunday, October 5 and Thursday, October 9 during Kinship Care Week. The Emmerdale actor, 35, was raised by his grandparents after his mum died when he was just four-years-old and is passionate about getting better support for kinship carers and the children they are raising.

Jay will urge Radio 4 listeners to donate to Kinship which supports kinship carers – grandparents, aunties, uncles, siblings and family friends, who provide loving and secure homes for children often with no help or support to deal with the unexpected costs of raising children who have experienced trauma.

Jay said: “I’m so passionate about the charity as I’ve seen first-hand the amazing work Kinship does to support kinship carers who help to keep thousands of children out of the overstretched care system. My grandparents sacrificed everything to raise me. They gave me all their love when everything else fell apart. I just wish Kinship existed when they stepped up to care for me, so they could have had some much-needed advice and support.”

During the appeal Jay will be heard highlighting how Kinship supports carers who step up to look after more than 141,000 kinship children in England and Wales often in times of crisis.

Kinship Chief Executive, Lucy Peake said: “We’re honoured to be chosen by the BBC for a Radio 4 Appeal this Kinship Care Week and delighted that Jay is presenting it on our behalf as he knows first-hand just how important kinship carers are. Money raised from the generous donations of Radio 4 listeners will help us to continue our crucial work supporting kinship carers, who make huge sacrifices to provide loving homes for thousands of children, preventing them from going into the care system.”

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