Matt Lucas quits show mid performance after falling ill
The BBC comedy legend updated his fans on Instagram about his condition.
Matt Lucas has given his fans a health update over social media after he had to pull out of Les Miserables mid-performance after falling ill. The comedy legend is currently touring in the 2025 international area tour of Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular.
The show is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original London production and Matt is playing the role of criminal and brute Monsieur Thénardier. The show is currently on its Australia leg of the tour where the quick cast change was forced to occur.
On May 14, Matt had to leave the Sydney theatre due to health concerns while his understudy took over the role, reports the Mirror. The 51-year-old took to Instagram on Friday to update his 405,000 followers on his health.
He wrote: "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 have gone on to fill the comments section of his post with well wishes, as one person wrote: "Aw take care of yourself matt, rest yourself and come back strong again!"
His former Great British Bake Off co-host Noel Fielding also wrote: "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."
Gail McKinnion, from Brave and Doctors, went on to say: "Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. Rest up, you'll be fighting fit in no time x."
Matt first shot to fame over 20 years ago with David Walliams through their hit show Little Britain. The comedic duo has revealed earlier this year that they are now working together on a new project - a podcast called Making a Scene.
The pair have since released regular episodes, with some featuring interviews with huge stars such as Simon Pegg and Daisy May Cooper.
David and Matt first met at the National Youth Theatre in the early 90s, where they quickly shared a bond over comedy and impressions. In 1999, the pair marked one of their first collaborations on Rock Profile, which lead to other TV parts.
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However, this all led to the duo finally making it big with Little Britain in 2003. Running until 2006, the sketch show initially aired on BBC Three before moving to BBC One. However, the show has faced backlash in recent years, with Ofcom branding some sketches as being "explicitly racist and outdated" back in 2023.
Last year, David teased fans with the idea of bringing back Little Britain, sharing that he thought that offence and shock "can actually be quite exciting".
He added: "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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