Theatre News

Richard Wilson cancels Edinburgh Fringe show following heart attack

The ”One Foot in the Grave” star was due to perform at the Fringe

Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson
© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Richard Wilson, best known for playing Victor Meldrew in the BBC comedy One Foot In The Grave, has pulled out of his Edinburgh Fringe show after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday afternoon.

The actor, whose show I Don't Believe It! was scheduled to run for 12 nights at the Assembly Roxy from Tuesday, is in hospital and in a stable condition according to his agent John Grant.

The show was to be a recreation of an episode of One Foot in the Grave called The Trial, in which Wilson starred on his own.

In a statement, the show's promoters Assembly, said: "Due to ill health, Richard Wilson has taken the decision, to take some time out. He is sorry to have to disappoint those hoping to see him in Edinburgh."

In recent years, the 80-year-old Scottish actor has turned his attentions to the stage, appearing in Krapp's Last Tape at the Sheffield Crucible in 2014. His recent directing credits include productions of The Nap, also at the Crucible, and last month's production of Alistair Beaton's Fracked at Chichester Festival Theatre.

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