Louise Redknapp had plenty to smile about as she left the Savoy Theatre on Monday night after making her debut in 9 to 5, hours before she released her first new music in 16 years.
Redknapp, 44, reunited with her co-stars, including Amber Davies, as she returned to the Dolly Parton musical two months after being forced to pull out following a nasty fall.
She left the London theatre with flowers in hand and was pictured laughing with fans as she greeted them for autographs and pictures at the stage door.
The star later showed off her painful injuries as she updated fans on what had happen, revealing she needed “ten stiches in her chin” and had been told to take time off “on doctors’ orders”.
Alongside a picture of her under a hospital light, Redknapp wrote: “It breaks my heart to say I am having to take some time out and won’t be able to continue with my role in 9-5. Due to a nasty fall I have only gone and fractured my wrist and got 10 (yes 10) stitches in my chin.
“Following my doctors orders- they have said I will be ok but as they say in the theatre ’the show must go on’ and I wish the rest of the fabulous cast an amazing opening night and I will be back on that stage for 9-5 before you know it.”
Redknapp was replaced by Caroline Sheen as Violet for the opening weeks of the show. She will now appear in the role until the end of June.
Her return, which she announced earlier this month on Instagram with a cast shot of herself alongside Davies and Natalie McQueen, came hours before she dropped her new track Stretch. The song is the first from her upcoming album Heavy Love which will mark her first in 18 years.
Speaking about the album she said: “Making this album has been a real emotional and honest process for me. It’s been 18 years since I went into a recording studio, and with no expectations I’ve come out with a body of work which I am so proud of. I can’t wait for you all to hear it!”
