Matt Lucas forced to quit show midway through performance after falling ill

Little Britain star Matt Lucas was forced to leave the stage midway through a performance after his voice failed him. 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. "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."

West End star Marisha Wallace, who is starring alongside Billy Porter in Cabaret at the moment rushed to reassure him in the comments. "Babe there is some kind of acute laryngitis going round it got me this week and I rarely call out. So don't feel bad you are smashing it. And REST!" she wrote.

His former colleague Noel Fielding simply said: "Get well soon lovely," with a heart emoji.

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."

after she confronted him in front of her 63 million followers remarks he made comparing her to his Little Britain creation Vicky Pollard.

On , he said: "Dear Millie, I just saw your post and wanted to respond, and provide some context. Nearly 25 years ago I co-wrote and appeared in a sketch show called Little Britain."

He elaborated: "There was a character in it called Vicky Pollard, who had blonde hair and always wore a pink top, and in the photo you had blonde hair and wore a pink top so I pointed out the similarity by posting one of her catchphrases.

"I thought you looked terrific and I was truly upset when the media portrayed it as if I 'slammed' you, first because I never do that, and secondly because I hold you in high regard. It wasn't my intention to post anything that would upset you, but I now see that it did, and for that I say sorry. Matt."