December 15th 2024.
Legendary actor Sir Ian McKellen made a triumphant return to the stage, surprising and delighting fans in a grand unscheduled appearance in a Robin Hood pantomime at the London Palladium. The audience erupted in cheers as Sir Ian, who had been absent from the stage for months due to an injury sustained from falling during a play, made his grand entrance.
Comedian Julian Clary, who plays Robin Hood in the production, announced Sir Ian's arrival with excitement, exclaiming, "And now please welcome to the stage King Richard, and he looks a lot like Sir Ian McKellen!" Sir Ian, dressed in a stunning long gown adorned with rich shades of purple and a magnificent bejeweled crown, greeted the audience with charm and wit. "Hello, this is my debut at the London Palladium! And like you all, I too love panto," he said with a smile.
As the audience erupted in laughter, Sir Ian cheekily teased his co-star Nigel Havers, saying, "I can't take it as low as you, Julian, as I am an actor!" He then turned to Havers and playfully reminded him of the art of real acting, saying, "Remember real acting, Nigel. Look, watch, and listen."
Sir Ian's return to the stage was a highly anticipated moment, as he had suffered serious injuries earlier in the year after falling off stage during a performance of Player King in the West End. The 85-year-old screen legend had been forced to withdraw from the remaining shows and had revealed the extent of his injuries. "It was horrible," he shared. "I've relived that fall I don't know how many times."
The incident had occurred during an intense battle scene when Sir Ian's foot got caught in a chair and he slid on a newspaper left scattered on the stage. "Like I was on a skateboard," he recalled. "The more I tried to get rid of it, the faster I proceeded down a step, onto the forestage, and then onto the lap of someone in the front row. I started screaming, 'Help me!' and then 'I'm sorry! I don't do this!'"
Sir Ian revealed that he had suffered a chipped vertebra and a fractured wrist, which had not yet fully healed. "I don't go out because I get nervous in case someone bangs into me, and I've got agonizing pains in my shoulders to do with my whole frame having been jolted," he shared.
Despite the injury, Sir Ian had managed to continue his work in the industry, appearing on This Morning to discuss the accident. "I had a bit of an accident, which wasn't too bad physically because I was wearing a fat suit because I was playing a big fat man. That broke the fall!" he joked.
The star-studded cast of the pantomime also included the incredible Jane McDonald, who stunned audience members with her appearance as Maid Marion. Dressed in a huge purple iridescent gown and a magnificent headdress, McDonald was a sight to behold. The production also featured the talents of Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Charlie Stemp, and Rob Madge in supporting roles.
The show is expected to run until the beginning of January, but it is uncertain how many more performances Sir Ian will take part in. As always, his fans are eagerly awaiting his next appearance on stage. Do you have a celebrity story to share? We would love to hear from you! Contact our entertainment team by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page.
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