Welsh comedy veteran told to rest on doctor's orders

Welsh comedian Owen Money has been forced to quit his annual pantomime appearance after he collapsed at home.

The 72-year-old stand-up pulled out of a planned tour of Aladdin on doctor’s orders.

However, he said he would return to his BBR Radio Wales at the end of the month, and would be back on the road with his own live shows next year.

In a statement, the comedian – real name – Lynn Mittell, said: ‘After a collapse at my home last Tuesday and a spell in hospital I've been advised by my doctors not to embark on my annual panto season, for the time being. 

‘I have a heart monitor fitted for the next few weeks to aid my treatment. My doctors are very confident that I will make a full recovery. I feel good in myself and thank you to everyone for their kind messages.

‘I have decided I will return to my radio shows starting the 30th November; as I don’t feel radio will be strenuous at all and sitting at my desk playing some epic music would in fact be very therapeutic for me. I’m not ruling out a return to my beloved panto but at this time I must put my health and doctors advice first.

‘My tour of Jukebox Heroes 3 next year, starting March, will not be affected as again my doctor is very confident of a full recovery and that I will be good to go by then!

‘I am so disappointed not be on stage this panto season but I have set the show up with my usual take on humour and direction and I hope you all enjoy the show as you always have.’

His role of Wishee-Washee will be taken by Julian Lewis-Jones who played Karl in Ruth Jones’s TV series Stella.

Aladdin – which is produced by Money’s own pantomime company – starts this Friday in Abertillery before visiting Blackwood, Tumble and Cwmbran.

Money started his career as a musician with various local Merthyr Tydfil bands in the 1960s, before forming the comedy group Tomfoolery in 1974. He left that in 1980 to become a club comedian and, later, a regular voice on BBC Wales.

Under his original name of Lynn Mittell, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours List  for services to entertainment in Wales. 

In March 2006, he suffered a minor stroke while at his holiday home in Thailand.

Published: 19 Nov 2019