Rik Mayall’s fans have been increasingly worried about his health after he pulled out of a number of tour dates.

The 49-year comic cancelled performances of The New Statesman in Nottingham and Malvern earlier this month, citing a sore throat, while an understudy stood in for him in Leicester last week.

Box office staff at the De Montfort Hall had told ticket-holders Mayall may not be returning to the role of conniving MP Alan B’Stard for up to six weeks, sparking feverish speculation about his health on internet message boards.

However, a publicist for the tour told Chortle that Mayall will be back in the show when it opens in Southampton on Monday, following a scheduled week off.

‘I’m not entirely certain what was wrong, but Rik was feeling a bit run-down,’ she said. ‘But he’s back to full health and will be back next week.’

In January, Mayall collapsed during a performance of The New Statesman in the West End, slumping to the floor five minutes from the end of the show.

The current tour, which started in March, runs until the end of July, and will also visit Bradford, Aberdeen, Bromley and Richmond.