Comic actor Mathew Horne is suffering from a virus after collapsing during a performance on a West End stage, a statement from the show said over the weekend.

Horne, 30, and Imelda Staunton, his co-star in the play 'Entertaining Mr Sloane', were both taken ill during the matinee performance last Thursday.

Horne fell to the floor of the Trafalgar Studios theatre 15 minutes into the second half of the show.The statement said: "Both were seen by doctors later that day and have been told they have a virus."

Horne's publicist said he was now feeling "much better". It had been thought the in-demand Gavin and Stacey star, who also has a sketch show and a film out, might be suffering from exhaustion.

RTE