Ill TV star quits panto

Former Coronation Street actress Denise Welch has quit her starring role in a pantomime because of ill health, theatre bosses confirmed.

The actress, who played Rovers Return landlady Natalie Barnes in the soap, is understood to be suffering from exhaustion.

Welch, 46, who is married to Auf Wiedersehen Pet star Tim Healy, was starring as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the Stockport Plaza theatre, in Cheshire.

She pulled out of the show on Christmas Eve and will not be returning.

Former Brookside actress Barbara Hatwell, who played Anthea Dixon, has taken
over the role.

Ian Hodgkiss, programme director at the theatre, said: "We are all very worried about Denise and wish her a very speedy recovery and hope she is back in full health very soon."

Welch left Coronation Street on New Year's Eve 2000 while pregnant with her second child.

Her most recent TV appearance has been in BBC1 show Down to Earth, playing
Ricky Tomlinson's wife.