EastEnders star Gillian Wright forced to quit panto after breaking wrist in rehearsal

EastEnders star Gillian Wright has said she is "gutted" at being forced to pull out of her panto role after falling and breaking her wrist in rehearsal.

The 62-year-old soap star - who plays Jean Slater in the BBC show - revealed she soldiered on through opening night with her arm in a plaster cast, only to learn the next day she required surgery, and is now recuperating after having a metal plate fitted in her wrist.

Wright had been due to star as panto villain the Wicked Queen in Snow White at the Central Theatre in Chatham, Kent until Saturday 31 December.

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She told her 57k Instagram followers: "Rehearsing a wonderful Wicked Queen in this lovely script...Took a little fall in dance …broke my wrist.

"Carried on with marvellous support from cast & crew & theatre, sporting a plaster cast, glittery sling & with the help of painkillers got through & did the Opening Night!

"Surgery following day & suddenly my wrist has a metal plate & pins in it & I’ve strict instructions for the plate to settle and that’s me out of the show. Gutted. Can’t believe the enormous repercussions of a little fall."

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The EastEnders star revealed the heating had broken during her stay at Derwent Valley Hospital and she had been supplied with knitted blankets by a volunteer group in order to keep warm.

She will now be replaced in the role by West End star Samantha Hughes who has appeared in shows including Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Wright added: "Thank you Samantha for being so brilliant! Thank you cast mates for being so supportive! Will miss the adventure with you all!"

EastEnders co-stars Emma Barton and Lucy Benjamin have been among those to send Wright their well-wishes.

The actor joined Albert Square in 2004 as Stacey Slater's mother, who suffers from bipolar disorder.

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Her character was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019, but has since been declared cancer free.