Actor Melvyn Hayes who starred in the hit TV comedy series It Ain't Half Hot, Mum has become a foster carer.

Father of six, Melvyn, 66, who was the cross-dressing Bombardier Gloria Beaumont in the 1970s comedy, went into fostering after being moved to tears by the poverty of Third World kids while on tour in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Bahrain.

He said: "You stay in five-star luxury, then you see how some people live. Your conscience strikes you and you wonder what you can do."

But he and his third wife, Jayne, who have been fostering for a year, were shocked when they heard of the abuse and neglect suffered by children in the UK.

He said: "Jayne and I went on a course. There are terrible horrors you encounter which you don't realise are going on.

"Jayne is a childminder and fostering is a direct continuation of that. You aren't here for ever and if I can give someone a little bit of something then it's been worthwhile," said Melvyn who is back on TV in the new BBC Choice comedy sketch show Revolver with a host of famous faces from July 26.

First used on Teletext July 10, 2001