Jan 23 2005
EXCLUSIVE
By Caroline Waterston
I'M A Celebrity winner Joe Pasquale has been injured - after falling out of a 30ft pantomime beanstalk.
The comedian dislocated his shoulder after crashing to the stage during a performance of Jack And The Beanstalk.
Horrified cast members including Letitia Dean , Sharon Watts of EastEnders , watched as Joe, 43, writhed in agony after the accident at the Hippodrome, Birmingham.
A witness said: "He plunged from the beanstalk and on to the stage with a huge thump. You could see he was badly hurt".
The rest of the cast looked on in horror before rushing to help him up.Ó
Squeaky-voiced Joe has been in pain, but with the show due to finish next weekend he has vowed to battle on to avoid disappointing fans. His tumble came just weeks after fellow comic Wee Jimmy Krankie was rushed to hospital following a similar fall in a different production of the panto.
Wee Jimmy , veteran performer Janette Tough, 57 , fell 20ft from a beanstalk prop at the Glasgow Pavilion in December. The 5ft 4in star suffered a fractured skull, and broken collarbone and ribs.
Janette said: I'm amazed this has happened to Joe so soon after my accident. I hope he is okay."
Joe, who plays Jack Trot, sparked a ticket stampede after he was crowned King of the Jungle in ITV1's I'm A Celebrity reality show.
Company manager Ian Sandy played the accident down. He said;"He did a slightly awkward manoeuvre during a dance routine on stage.
He should make a full recovery in the next three to four weeks.
c.waterston@
people.co.uk
