ONE of Lancashire's favourite actors is 'doing well' in hospital after collapsing on stage during the opening night of a revival of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights live show, forcing its cancellation.

Ted Robbins, who plays Den Perry in the show, was in the middle of a solo section when he clutched his chest, stumbled and fell to the ground last night.

The curtain was closed immediately as staff rushed to the stage with medical equipment and the show at the Manchester Arena was cancelled.

The venue said the 59-year-old, who lives in Crawshawbooth with his wife Judy and children Jack and Molly, was in a 'stable condition' in Wythenshawe Hospital.

And Judy earlier said her husband would be 'fit and healthy soon' and praised a doctor in the audience who went to his aid, and who she now wants to trace.

She said: "(Ted) is in some pain due to bruising on his ribs from chest compressions but other than that he is doing well.

"Ted had rheumatic fever when he was a child which left him with some heart damage so we have always been aware that he would need a routine procedure to correct.

"We are so incredibly grateful for everyone's support and we would love more than anything to find out who the doctor was out of the audience who gave such fantastic treatment."

Mrs Robbins also thanked fans for their messages of support, and said: "He will be fit and healthy again soon. God bless all the NHS staff that are doing such a fantastic job."

Mr Robbins was reprising his role as Den Perry, the main villain from the Channel Four programme that aired in 2001 and 2002, in which he famously burned down the Phoenix club.

Bolton comic Peter Kay had revived the characters for a live show to raise money for Comic Relief.

Mr Robbins is also currently playing Barry Quid in the 2014 revival of Birds Of A Feather and heads the fictitious prison as the governor in CBBC programme The Slammer.

He also presents a morning show on BBC Radio Lancashire.

Manchester United and former Blackburn Rovers footballer Phil Jones, who was also in the audience, tweeted: "Still shocked to see Ted Robbins collapse on stage. Thoughts with him and his family."

Tonight's performance of Phoenix Nights is due to go ahead.