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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

EastEnders star Gillian Wright rushed to hospital after nasty panto accident

EastEnders star Gillian Wright was rushed to hospital after suffering a nasty injury.

The actress - who is best known for playing Jean Slater on the BBC One soap - was left with a broken wrist while rehearsing for Snow White.

Gillian, 62, is set to appear in the festive pantomime in Chatham.

However, the EastEnders star's rehearsals turned chaotic when she was forced to seek medical treatment after injuring her wrist.

The much-loved Albert Square actress had to undergo surgery and has been forced to pull out of the upcoming shows - leaving her heartbroken.

Gillian Wright plays Jean Slater on EastEnders (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Gillian shared the announcement on her Instagram account alongside a snap of her arm in a cast after sustaining her injuries.

"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.

Gillian has been forced to pull out of the panto (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

"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 penned.

Gillian has played loveable Jean since 2006 (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

"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.

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