Phoenix Nights Live to go on without him

Ted Robbins’s wife says the comedian is ‘doing well’ after his collapse on stage during Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights Live last night.

Judy wrote on Twitter that the 59-year-old ‘is in some pain due to bruising on his ribs from chest compressions but other than that he is doing well.’

Tonight’s performance will go ahead without him, following his shock collapse that brought last night’s show to a premature end.

Judy added: ‘”e are so incredibly grateful for everyone's support and we would love more than anything to find out who the doctor was out of the audience who have such fantastic treatment.

‘Thanks for all your lovely messages, it's very touching to know he is so loved. He will be fit and healthy again soon. God bless all the NHS staff that are doing such a fantastic job.’

Robbins – who plays Den Perry, the arch rival of Kay's Brian Potter, – was onstage alone when he clutched his chest and fell heavily to the floor.

One audience member told Chortle: ‘He collapsed mid-speech. We all thought it was part of the act, so no one did anything. Then the curtain fell and medics came, but people were still laughing. Then the family rushed to the stage. It was awful.’

Co-star Justin Moorhouse, who plays Young Kenny, told the crowd: 'We are very sorry. This is not part of the show. I'm afraid we're going to have to postpone the show tonight as obviously we have important things to do.’

Robbins’s sister Kate, the singer and impressionist, was in the audience. She tweeted after the incident: ‘My brother Ted was taken ill on stage. He's been taken to a local hospital . Thank you for all your good wishes and concern. He's a fighter.’

And Phoenix Nights co-creator and co-star Dave Spikey tweeted: ‘Come on TED!!!!! The whole dressing room and crew are shouting it out. For one of the nicest, most generous men I have ever met.’

This morning the Manchester Arena issued a statement saying: ‘This evening's performance of will be going ahead as planned. Thanks to everyone for their patience and understanding. Wishing Ted Robbins a full and speedy recovery. ‘

Robbins is a comic, actor, panto star, BBC Radio Lancashire presenter and popular TV warm-up man. He layed Victor St James in Benidorm, appears in the Birds of a Feather revival playing Barry Quid and has his own CBBC show, The Slammer.

Fans and comics including Jason Manford, John Bishop, Toby Foster and Rory Bremner have rushed to Twitter to wish Robbins well.

Phoenix Nights will run for 14 more nights at the Phones 4U Arena in aid of Comic Relief, all of which have sold out.

Published: 1 Feb 2015