Comedy legend issues health update after falling ill and quitting show
The Little Britain star took to Instagram to update fans about his condition after abandoning his role mid-show. He is now resting but says he hopes to be "back on stage soon"
Matt Lucas has been supported by fans are revealing he was forced to pull out of Les Miserables mid-show over health concerns.
The 51-year-old is currently touring in the 2025 international arena tour of Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular, which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original London production. The show, is currently in Australia where the incident occured.
He was forced to abandon his role of Monsieur Thénardier, and leave the theatre on May 14 while an understudy took over during the production in Sydney.
Taking to Instagram on Friday he issued a health update to his 405,000 followers. It read: "I've been having a magical time in Les Misérables in arenas across Sydney and Melbourne," he wrote. "In over 30 years, I've never had to bow out of a performance, but tonight, as I was singing Master Of The House, I could feel my voice deserting me. So if Thénardier looked very different in act two, that was because the amazing Connor James took over. I am now in bed resting up, and I hope to be back on stage soon."
His fans rushed to the comments section to wish him well, one wrote: "Aw take care of yourself matt, rest yourself and come back strong again!" His former Great British Bake Off colleague Noel Fielding simply said: "Get well soon lovely," while former EastEnders and Once Upon A Time star Sean Maguire commented: "I hope you feel better soon, my dear friend. X." Brave and Doctors actress Gail McKinnion wrote: "Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. Rest up, you'll be fighting fit in no time x."
Matt shot to fame with David Walliams with their hit show over 20 years ago, and now they are working together again. The two comedians revealed earlier this year that they would be unleasing their very first podcast together called, Making A Scene. They have since released regular episodes, some featuring interviews with big names including Simon Pegg, and Daisy May Cooper
Matt and David met at the National Youth Theatre in the early 90s and quickly bonded over their love of comedy and impressions. One of their first collaborations was on Rock Profile, which started in 1999. After other TV parts they finally made it big in 2003 with Little Britain.
The sketch show aired from 2003 until 2006 on BBC Three and eventually BBC One, however faced backlash in recent years, with some sketches being branded "explicitly racist and outdated" by Ofcom back in 2023.
Last year, David teased the idea of bringing Little Britain back, revealing that he thought that offence and shock "can actually be quite exciting".
He said: "The comedy I grew up with, whether it's Mel Brooks or Monty Python... I love being shocked. I mean, offence is a bit of a different thing, isn't it, and as a white, middle aged man things don't offend you in the same way as they might if you were a member of a minority group.
"But at the same time, I think comedy has got to be playful. And the thing is, if you're worried every time you make a joke… You have half a second to decide with the thing you're going to say, you should say or not."
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