Mr Osmond, the youngest of the American singing siblings The Osmonds, is starring in this year's pantomime at the Derngate Theatre in Northampton.

But yesterday he was thrilling children at NGH, some of whom may be in hospital over Christmas, with a visit to the activity room shared by Paddington and Disney Wards accompanied by Danielle York who plays Cinderella.

He said: "It's amazing what it does for your spirits to come here and visit the children who are so courageous and have come so far.

"It's really inspirational to take time out of your life to do this."

Mr Osmond talked to several of the children and drew and signed a picture for five-year-old Amelia Jaycock, from Daventry, who is receiving chemotherapy for a brain tumour.

Her mother, Alex, said: "It was really cute and it was a really nice touch. It will go up in her bedroom now."

Mr Osmond is renting a cottage in Northamptonshire until he completes pantomime season in January and is having all his four children to stay with him over Christmas.

He said he is getting used to Northampton but joked during a chat with hospital staff that he had already driven the wrong way down the M1.

Sue Falkner, play services co-ordinator, said: "It's been really good and it's really boosted the spirits of the children, although probably even more so the adults.

"For the children, in their minds the visitors were the characters they play and it has really given them a lift."