An Oscar-nominated comedy writer has become the new patron of an Oxford charity for pregnant mothers and their babies.

Armando Iannucci, co-creator of spoof television presenter Alan Partridge, the political satire The Thick of It and its Oscar-nominated big-screen spin-off In The Loop, has become the celebrity patron of the Silver Star Society.

The Silver Star unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital looked after Mr Iannucci’s wife during her pregnancies with their three children.

To honour its good work, Mr Iannucci agreed to become the patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity which was set up in 1987 by parents of babies born at the unit.

Mr Ianucci was nominated for a 2010 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, but was pipped to the post by Geoffrey Fletcher for the film Precious.

He said: “I’m excited and honoured to be asked to be Patron of the Silver Star Unit.

“The unit is world renowned for the dedicated care and attention it gives mothers with troubled pregnancies.

“I’ve seen their work at close hand throughout my wife’s three pregnancies, leading to the birth of our three bouncing, energetic children.

“Like any NHS service, funding is always an issue, so I’ll be particularly keen to play a part not only in raising awareness of the fantastic work the Silver Star Unit does in care and ongoing research, but in helping them secure better funding for the future.”

The Silver Star Unit is made up of a small team of staff who provide high-level care to mothers who have experienced major problems during their pregnancies.

Women with a history of repeated miscarriage, pre eclampsia, kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are among those treated.

The unit is funded by the NHS, but added extras, including high-tech equipment, has mostly been bought by the charity.

Silver Star society founder Prof Chris Redman said it was delighted Mr Iannucci had agreed to be patron, adding: “He will bring greater recognition of the work of the society.”