The lights are set to shine bright once more for comedy legend Ted Robbins, who's gearing up to return to live performance ten years after a harrowing on-stage collapse at Manchester Arena. The diminutive but mighty comedian will be taking centre stage at the Darwen Library Theatre in Lancashire on 1 July, headlining The Don Banks Afternoon Variety Show with his unique brand of wit and charm.
It was January 31st, 2015, when disaster struck during the opening night of the Phoenix Nights Live tour – a charity event that was supposed to be a celebration of laughter and good humour. But instead, it became a moment of high drama as Robbins collapsed just after the interval while performing a solo sketch in front of a packed 20,000-capacity crowd.
The quick thinking of an off-duty cardiothoracic doctor and a paramedic in the audience proved to be the difference between life and death. They sprang into action, performing CPR on Robbins with the doctor even having to crack his ribs during the resuscitation efforts. And it was all thanks to their bravery that this comedy great was given a second chance – one he's determined not to waste.
Robbins' brushes with mortality have been nothing short of alarming. He'd already scheduled surgery for a faulty heart valve, a condition stemming from rheumatic fever contracted at just 11 years old. And in the weeks leading up to his collapse, he was on a mission to tick off as many performances as possible before undergoing the operation – determined to give the audience one last show before taking a break.
Now, ten years on, Robbins is back and raring to go – albeit with a slightly smaller stage to share his talents. But don't worry, he's not losing any of his trademark bravado. "Hopefully with a happier outcome," he quips about the Darwen gig, which promises to be a classic variety show featuring comedy, singing, and a Q&A session that'll have the audience in stitches.
It's not just Phoenix Nights, though – Robbins has been entertaining British audiences for decades with his appearances in beloved soaps like Brookside and Coronation Street, as well as dramas such as Holby City and Doctors. He's also had a spot of fun on the sketch comedy series Little Britain.