The show must go on, they say. But even Dora Bryan had to concede defeat after ending up in hospital days before her latest pantomime debut.

The 80-year-old was well into rehearsals for her part as Fairy Bow Bells in Dick Whittington at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, when she had to pull out after injuring herself in a freak accident at home in Kemp Town, Brighton.

Playing down the incident yesterday she said: "I've got asthma and was trying to reach my nebuliser when the whole lot fell on me - the table lamp and bedside table, and hit me all down the side of my arms and legs. It was quite nasty and very painful.

"I still went to rehearsals the day after like a good old pro and I think they thought I was being very brave but I was in too much pain. They could see I wasn't well so they have been very kind and have got someone else in to replace me.

"It is a bit disappointing because I do like to do pantos as that's how I started when I was a little girl.

"Now I've got the 'flu bug as well, which is such a shame because we'd just come back from a three-week cruise looking all lovely and brown."

Dora was born in Southport, Lancashire, in 1924 and her showbusiness career spans more than 60 years.

She appeared in all the St Trinian's films and one of her greatest theatrical successes was as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly. She also plays Roz in Last Of The Summer Wine.

Her awards include a British Academy Award, Variety Club of Great Britain Award for best actress of the year and the Olivier Award.

Dora has been awarded an OBE and a Master of Arts degree from Manchester University. She has twice been the subject of This Is Your Life and written an autobiography, According To Dora.

Nicola MacAuliffe has replaced Dora as Fairy Bow Bells.