MasterChef champion Jane Devonshire has been announced as Coeliac UK’s charity ambassador, spearheading a new campaign.

The new campaign will help Coeliac UK to find thousands of children living with undiagnosed coeliac disease, a cause close to Devonshire’s heart following her son Ben’s coeliac diagnosis, aged two.

“I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to be an ambassador for Coeliac UK, because raising awareness of coeliac disease, especially for children, is a cause close to my heart,” Devonshire said.

“I’ve seen first-hand the difference that early diagnosis can make, and I want to help the charity reach more parents and carers who might be struggling and searching, sometimes for many years, to find answers to their child’s ill health.”

Hilary Croft, chief executive of Coeliac UK, said that the charity was delighted to welcome Devonshire, and that she had always been a great friend to the charity.

“With her help, we hope to increase diagnosis rates by encouraging all parents, grandparents or carers who are seeing symptoms like faltering growth, unexpected weight loss or a bloated tummy in their child to go to their GP and ask for a blood test for coeliac disease,” Croft added.