An Eastenders star has been forced to pull out of a panto after an accident during rehearsals. Gillian Wright was rushed to hospital after falling while practising a dance routine.
According to The Mirror she underwent surgery on a wrist injury. The soap star, best known for playing Jean Slater on the BBC One show - has now got plates and pins in her wrist, she told on her instagram account.
Gillian, 62, was rehearsing for her role as the Wicked Queen in Snow White which is running at Central Theatre in Chatham, Kent. Unfortunately, following the accident, the Albert Square actress had to undergo surgery and says she is "heartbroken" at having to pull out of the show.
Writing on Instagram, alongside a picture of her arm in a cast, she said: "Rehearsing a wonderful Wicked Queen in this lovely script, with these lovely people at Central Theatre in Chatham. Took a little fall in dance - broke my wrist.
"Carried on with marvellous support from cast and crew and theatre, sporting a plaster cast, glittery sling and with the help of painkillers got through and did the Opening Night. Surgery following day and suddenly my wrist has a metal plate and pins in it and I’ve strict instructions for the plate to settle and that’s me out of the show. Gutted.
"Can’t believe the enormous repercussions of a little fall. So much left to find with the Queen, lovely numbers and routines and rhyming couplet banter. But the marvellous Samantha Hughes has stepped in and taken on the role with exquisite grandeur and cheekiness and aplomb! Thank you Samantha for being so brilliant."
Gillian went on to thank all of those who supported her following her accident. "Thank you cast mates for being so supportive. Will miss the adventure with you all," she wrote.
"Thank you to Derwent Valley Hospital for their care and surgery and amazing recovery team. Thank you to the knit and chat group who donated blankets as the hospital heating went down and we got to take the blankets home."
Gillian has played Stacey Slater's mum, Jean Slater, on EastEnders since 2006. Although her character was only supposed to appear in one episode, Jean proved such a hit with BBC viewers after her initial appearance that EastEnders bosses actually wrote her character into the show as a staple member of the EastEnders family.
