The Stage

Krankies star back onstage after pantomime accident

Published Tuesday 26 July 2005 at 15:20 by Robin Duke

Krankies star Janette Tough has made her first stage appearance since a horrific accident in pantomime late last year almost ended her career. But the entertainer has admitted that for the first few dates of the three-month residency at Blackpool’s North Pier she has been plagued by nerves.

Janette fell more than 20ft to the stage when she and husband Ian were appearing in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Glasgow Pavilion. She suffered a fractured skull, broken collarbone, perforated ear drum, cracked ribs and bad bruising. Her balance was affected for three months and she has said there were times during her recovery when she wondered whether she would ever pluck up the courage to appear onstage again.

“I won’t know until I get into the swing of things just whether I’m fully recovered or not,” she said. “I’m not sore anymore and I’m told all my bones have healed up but I might still have to take things easy. But it’s like when a skater takes a tumble or you fall off a bike - you’ve just got to dust yourself down and get on with it.”

Husband Ian, who performs alongside Tough in the show, said he is also nervous about the comeback. He added: “An important part of the act has always been when Janette is dressed as Jimmy and we do a ventriloquist’s dummy routine. It involves me shaking and throwing her around a lot and I’m worried that she might not be ready for it. I’m actually not keen on doing it just yet but Janette said the fans would miss it if it’s not in the show. I think people will think I’m been a real bastard.”

The performers met in 1966, formed the double act in 1967, and made their Blackpool summer season debut in 1970. The last time they were in the resort was at the Grand Theatre in 1992. But Tough has revealed they will not be doing pantomime this year.

“It’s a shame because we have done the Glasgow Pavilion for the last eight out of ten years but decisions had to be made early and I was just too ill to commit myself at the time,” she said.