Craig Charles has shared a health update after an appearance at a fan event was cancelled on the weekend. The actor has taken to social media to explain what happened and why he unable to attend the event.
The Red Dwarf star had been due to attend the London Film and Comic-Con event alongside his castmates Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn and Hattie Hayridge. Red Dwarf first aired on February 15 1988 and ended in 1999. It features the adventures of the last human being alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.
The show has amassed a cult of fans over the years, it has millions of fans worldwide and stars from the series regularly appear at fan conventions up and down the country.
Organisers posted a statement on Facebook which has since been deleted, it explained: “We contacted Craig at 9am to be be told that due to a family emergency he would not be in until 11am.
“At 11:30am we spent 20 minutes knocking on his hotel room door where there was no answer. His Red Dwarf colleagues were able to contact him at 12.30 where he confirmed he was ill and unable to attend. These are the facts.
“The Group shot [photo opportunity with fans] will go ahead with Danny, Robert and Hattie and ticket holders will receive an automatic £60 refund to allow for the change of line up. If anybody does not want the group shot, any unused tickets will automatically be refunded after the show.”
Craig later took to X and shared he’d become ill overnight and was unable to attend the event. He wrote: “I’d just like to say sorry to showmasters and the fans at Comicon. I made it to the hotel but woke up at 3 this morning with stomach pains.
“I then proceeded to be violently ill for hours. Not a pretty sight. I tried to see if it would wear off but at 10 am I called it off and came back to Manchester.
“I’m feeling slightly better now and I’m drinking lots of water and electrolytes. Again sorry for the cancellation and I look forward to next time.”
Fans were understanding and sent well wishes. On X, Sam wrote: “Look after yourself. There will always be other chances for fans to meet you – and every single one of them would rather put your health first. Get well soon.”
Another commented “Craig, we haven’t met yet at a convention, but being unwell is something that can not be helped. You are under the duty of care of the promoters, and all shows are subject of work and personal commitments. Rest well and your health comes first sir.”
The event had also been due to feature fellow Red Dwarf star Chris Barrie, but he also pulled out of the appearance citing medical issues. In a statement posted on his website, Chris explained: “Hello Everyone. I’m going to be brief, but over the last week I have been dealing with a medical situation which I am only just beginning to get my head around.
“In the light of this I shall be attending no more events over the summer and into the autumn. Updates on all this will be issued as and when. Obviously I shall miss not being with the posse in London this Sunday but I’m afraid that is the way it is. Enjoy!”
Craig told the ECHO in 2023 about his upbringing in Liverpool, he said: “My dad arrived in England in 1958, he arrived at Liverpool Docks with a pocketful of change and a bag full of records. I was born in 1964 so while Liverpool was swinging to The Beatles, our house was moving to a different groove with things like Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles.”
Craig also credited his Merseyside roots for shaping his interests. He said: “Hanging around Granby and going to the Boogaloo, you were listening to people like Earth Wind and Fire and Funkadelic so there were a lot of influences.
“There’s so many influences in Liverpool because it’s a port city and it’s had immigrants there for a very long time. Especially in Liverpool 8 because you thought it was us against the world.”