Did he fall out with co-star Robert Lindsay?

Rufus Hound has left the West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

The comedian has not been in the production all week, but the reasons are unclear, and now producers have confirmed his permanent departure.

The Daily Mail’s veteran theatre correspondent Baz Bamigboye says he was given conflicting reports that Hound had left either because he was ill or because he was filming in Scotland. It was also claimed that his off-stage relationship with co-star Robert Lindsay did not match the on-stage chemistry they had as a pair of French Riviera conmen.

Producers have announced that he will be replaced by Alex Gaumond, who previously played Miss Trunchbull in the West End production of Matilda, from November 11.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on Frank Oz’s 1988 film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, which opened in the West End in February. It also stars Katherine Kingsley, Bonnie Langford and Gary Wilmot.

Hound, who previously appeared on stage in One Man, Two Guvnors, quit stand-up to move into acting in 2012 after admitting he found it the challenge of reaching the heights of his comic heroes daunting.

Published: 17 Oct 2014