Comedian and TV star Ted Robbins had a lucky escape following a house fire at his home.
He had to be treated by firefighters after inhaling smoke during the blaze on Monday.
Several rooms of his home in Rawtenstall, Lancashire - including daughter Molly’s cake room - were left ‘completely gutted’.
Ted’s wife Judy said the tumble dryer in their cellar caught alight, LancsLive reports.
She said: “It’s been traumatic. It has completely gutted the basement of our house.
“We have got no gas or electric and had to stay in a hotel on Monday night. Thank God everybody is fine and nobody was hurt. The fire service were fantastic and were out within eight minutes of calling.”
Judy said Phoenix Nights star Ted, who in 2015 suffered a heart attack on stage at the Manchester Arena, had told her an acrid smell was making his eyes water but didn’t know where it was coming from, when she realised it was coming from the tumble dryer in their utility room.
She said: “It wasn’t even on, but it was plugged in.
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“It had been on and I was going out so I opened the door of the tumble dryer which stops the cycle. I’m always vigilant about cleaning out the floss. Within half an hour it set on fire.”
She added: “It was smouldering but there was black smoke. It was just stinging horrible smoke.
“We live in an upside down house, with the living room upstairs. The top half of the house isn’t too bad but it is smoke damaged.
“We are all upset, but we are fine.
“Everybody is safe and that’s the main thing.”
Two fire crews from Rawtenstall and one from Ramsbottom spent around two hours attending the incident.
Four firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used one hose reel to extinguish the fire after attending at around 2.30pm.
A Lancashire Fire and Rescue service spokesperson said: “There was one casualty at the incident who was given precautionary checks by ambulance crews at the scene for the effects of smoke inhalation.”
Ted, who is fit and well and looking forward to more public engagements this week, sent his personal thanks to the fire and rescue teams.
He tweeted: “Huge thanks to magnificent Lancashire Fire & Rescue team who put out and sorted the fire at ours yesterday - very scary but no-one injured thank God. Please everyone - check all white electrical goods - tumble dryers especially!”
