'I'm so sorry': Suranne Jones forced to pull out of 'deeply affecting' theatre show after suffering mystery illness

Doctor Foster star Suranne Jones has been forced to end her run on her current West End theatre production Frozen, after falling ill while on stage.

The 38-year-old mum-of-one was starring as a mother whose child had been kidnapped and murdered in the show, but had to pull out of the production's run before it ended.

Explaining the situation on her Instagram page, Suranne revealed that she experienced a worrying dizzy spell on stage at the end of last week, leaving her understudy to take her place.

She continued to reveal that she had also been suffering from a mystery illness - and perhaps returned to work on the show too soon.

MORE: ‘I don’t want to do guilty pleasure TV’: Suranne Jones admits being ‘hurt’ by Doctor Foster reviews

Suranne Jones also admitted that the contents of the production, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, had been 'deeply affecting', and it seems, had taken its toll on her after three months in the gruelling role.

She wrote, 'Dear all. I’m so sorry I couldn’t make the last 4 shows. I was taken off the matinee on Thursday half way through the show as I felt so dizzy when I was on stage and my wonderful understudy #roisinrae finished the show.

'I came back after an illness and it was perhaps too soon .. anyone who knows the show knows it is a highly draining piece and after 3 months and a sickness I just wasn’t able to end the run. I was so hoping to make it back for you all tonight but my dr eventually said I shouldn’t put myself through it and risk getting ill again. SO GUTTED and SO SORRY to those I missed.

'This show has taken it’s toll on me and the subject matter was deeply affecting. You as the audience experience it once and always say how you are moved and drained by it. I’m certain it has contributed to my feeling under the weather. We as performers always think we can push through and carry on but sometimes we just can’t.'

Towards the end of the message to her fans on Sunday, Suranne Jones shared the disappointing news that she would not be returning to the productions final two shows, but would instead be taking some time out to recover. She continued, revealing that her next project would be working on her upcoming BBC show, Gentleman Jack.

She wrote, 'I’m now going to take time out and rest before I move on to Gentleman Jack in a few weeks... but I’ll be back with some exciting #AnneLister News when we’ve completed filming💋 thank you for all your support and to everyone who shared this #Frozen journey with us.

'Thank you to our team @theatreroyalhaymarket and to our brilliant cast and finally to those who we met through @missingpeople.uk ..We send our love to those who are currently missing a loved one and on a personal note, Thank you to our amazing company stage manager and my friend @e_banners Emma Banwell .. love and respect Suranne 💋 #endofatoughjob #theatrelife #healthfirst #onlyhumanafterall'.

Suranne also confirmed that she would be taking a break from her social media for the next few weeks, while she films the new show.

Get better soon Suranne!

Amy Hunt

Amy Hunt is an experienced digital journalist specialising in homes, interiors and hobbies. She began her career working as the features assistant at woman&home magazine, before moving over to the digital side of the brand where she eventually became the Lifestyle Editor up until January 2022. Amy won the Digital Journalist of the Year award at the AOP Awards in 2019 for her work on womanandhome.com.