Matt Lucas forced to pull out of Les Misérables mid-performance due to health woes - as co-star steps in to save the day
Matt Lucas was replaced mid-performance by his co-star Connor Jones during a Les Misérables show this week after experiencing health issues on stage.
The actor and comedian, 51, who is currently performing in arena shows across Sydney and Melbourne, shared an update on Instagram Friday, explaining that he had to bow out after feeling his voice 'deserting' him mid-performance.
He wrote: 'I've been having a magical time in Les Miserables in arenas in Sydney and Melbourne.
He continued: 'In over 30 years I've never had to bow out during a performance but tonight, as I was singer Master Of The House, I could feel my voice deserting me,
'So if Thenardier looked very different in Act 2, that was because the amazing Connor Jones took over.
Matt reassured fans that he is now resting and hopes to return to the stage soon, adding: 'I'm now in bed resting up, and hope to be back on stage soon.'
The comedian, 51, who is currently performing in arena shows across Australia, shared an update on Instagram Friday, explaining that he had to bow out after feeling his voice 'deserting' him mid-performance (pictured with Helen Walsh)
He is currently playing Thénardier in the 2025 international arena tour of Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular.
The tour began in Sydney last month and continues in Melbourne through May 25, before moving to Brisbane for five shows.
The Australian leg is a limited five-week engagement celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original London production.
It comes after David Williams and Matt teased an epic Little Britain revival during a live appearance on Lorraine earlier this year.
The two, who created and starred in the BBC comedy series, chatted with Lorraine Kelly, 65, on the ITV show about their new podcast Making A Scene.
Little Britain - which aired on BBC Three and One - had 44 episodes, which aired over three seasons between 2003 and 2006.
The sketch show saw David and Matt take on the role of various characters narrated by Tom Baker.
During their appearance on the morning talk show, Lorraine was desperate to know if the programme would ever make a return, after it was pulled from BBC iPlayer, Netflix and BritBox in June 2020.
David said: 'Would you like to see it? We'll do it especially for you.'
Matt added: 'If we were to do it again, maybe on stage, or something like that.
'We did a tour 20 years ago, it was great fun, I think that would be a good way to do it again.'
Earlier on in the interview Lorraine told the stars: 'Little Britain has had a new lease of life on TikTok. There is a whole new generation getting it, laughing.'
David replied: 'Well my son is 11. Everyone at his school is talking about it. As you rightly said, TikTok, people are sharing on TikTok.
'It's a whole new generation discovering it. I think those social media things are great for one/two minute clips.'
Lorraine confessed that she remembered when she was watching it that George Michael and Elton John appeared on the series.
Lorraine said: 'Some of it is a bit you'd get into trouble if you did that now. But a hell of a lot of it is still as funny as it ever was. If you don't want to watch it, don't watch it.'
David confessed: 'I don't know about you, but someone says every day is there going to be more Little Britain.
'Every day someone comes up to me in the street.'
After teasing that they might be making a return, Lorraine looked over the moon as she said: 'In this day and age we need all the laughs we can get.'
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