Junkies cancelled

Aug 4 2018 | By More

Illness forces Andy Gray to quit play

Andy Gray, panto funnyman and star of Scottish stage and screen, has had to withdraw from Fringe show The Junkies for medical reasons.

The Junkies was due to feature Gray with fellow panto star and broadcaster Grant Stott as “Edinburgh’s hardest working second-hand dealers” at Gilded Balloon’s Rose Street theatre.

Andy Gray (right) with Grant Stott (left) and Ruaraidh Murray. Pic Grant Stott

Andy Gray (right) with Grant Stott (left), Ruaraidh Murray and a copy of the Junkies script. Pic Grant Stott

The full run to August 17 has now been cancelled and all ticket holders will be given a full refund.

The dark comedy is written by Edinburgh-born actor Ruaraidh Murray who first met Gray in 2003 when they were performing together in London. Murray was to play the pair’s Junk shop prodigy Choo Choo.

The Junkies had one successful preview, then on Friday Gilded Balloon released a statement through social media:

“Due to medical circumstances, Andy Gray has regrettably had to withdraw from appearing in The Junkies. Unfortunately, as a result, the decision has been made to cancel the rest of the run.

“Grant Stott and fellow cast members Ruaraidh Murray and Ryan Dewar along with Karen and Katy Koren all agree this is absolutely the right decision to make at this time and they all look forward to seeing Andy back on the stage where he belongs very soon.”

River City

BBC Scotland released a similar statement concerning Gray’s involvement in River City, which was due to start shooting on Monday after a summer break.

Tweet from the BBC with statement about Andy Gray: "Due to medical reasons, Andy Gray has regrettably had to withdraw from appearing in the coming series of River City which begins filming on Monday following the summer break. We are currently in the process of re-working stories Andy’s character was involved in and amending scripts accordingly. All of the River City family send Andy our very best wishes.”

Tweet from the BBC

Gray is scheduled to appear in this Christmas’s King’s panto, Beauty and the Beast, playing his trademark silly billy role against resident villain Stott and dame Allan Stewart for their 15th panto together at the King’s Edinburgh.

Everyone at All Edinburgh Theatre sends Andy all the best for the speediest of recoveries.

ENDS

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