The star, best known for playing hard-nosed Det Insp Kate Fleming in Line Of Duty, said more cash is urgently needed to help scientists find a cure. The Daily Express has exposed how research into brain wasting diseases like Alzheimer’s is starved of funding. Vicky, whose grandmother Iris was struck down by the disease, said: “It’s so heartwarming to see people doing what they can to raise awareness and funds for various dementia related charities. Sadly we still need all the help we can get to support those with dementia to live well, along with vital research in the hope to finding a cure. This all requires urgent funding.”

Tonight Vicky, 35, fronts a two-part documentary Our Dementia Choir in which she shines a light on how music can provide therapy to those battling incurable neurological conditions.

Filmed in her home city of Nottingham the youngest member of the 20-strong choir is 31 while the oldest 87.

Each volunteered to help researchers better understand how music can help reawaken brains devastated by dementia. Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador Vicky lost her grandmother to dementia in 2015 and now champions research into the condition.

She said: “I watched my nana being taken by dementia. I watched her personality slowly fade away – it’s one of the hardest things to watch a family member go through.”

Current funding for dementia research does not come close to the scale of the crisis facing Britain with charities begging for more cash as part of the upcoming spending review in which the Government will reveal public services and investment priorities.

The Department of Health and Social Care said: “We have committed to spend £60million a year on dementia research and last year we exceeded this by more than £22million. Since the launch of the Government’s 2020 Dementia Challenge in 2012 we have spent £433million to accelerate progress in early detection, improved treatment, prevention and care.”

Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure BBC One today at 8pm

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