Sir Ian McKellen says he 'won't return to the stage for a year' following fall

Sir Ian McKellen has given a health update after being injured in a stage fall earlier this year and says he is unlikely to tread the boards again for at least another 12 months.

Back in June, the actor, 85, was performing in a production of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London when he lost his footing in a fight scene and fell from the stage.

The Lord of the Rings star suffered injuries to his wrist and neck and was forced to withdraw from the remainder of the show’s national tour.

Sir Ian opened about his recovery and plans for a return to the theatre world while appearing on Simon Mayo’s Greatest Hits Radio Drivetime show on Wednesday to promote his new film, The Critic.

Sir Ian McKellen was appearing in a production of Player Kings when he lost his footing in a fight scene and fell from the stage (Manuel Harlan)

He said: “What I’ve been left with is not so much a physical injury, but a mental disturbance because I thought it was much more serious at the time than it was.

“I think I thought I was about to die, I thought I’d broken my neck I’d forgotten but apparently, I’d said, ‘I’ve broken my neck, I am dying’ and if I said it, I must have thought that I was.

“And I’ve just got to deal with that. I’m not dying, not just yet and I hope I’ll get back to acting again on stage.’

When probed by the broadcaster when he would know if the time was right, Sir Ian replied: “That’s a good point – I think I’ll know because the contract says I have to turn up at a particular time! I’m not proposing to work on stage for another year and I think by then this will all be alright.”

With stage roles off limits for the time being, Mayo asked about recent rumours that he is set to reprise his iconic role as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.

Sir Ian McKellen also address reports he is set to reprise his iconic role as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings

Sir Ian said: “One can’t be indifferent to the possibility that I might be able to go back and play a part that I thought I’d finished with nearly 25 years ago. There are apparently going to be two films that might involve Gandalf in some way, but until I’ve read a script I don’t know whether it’s something I’d want to do - but I do feel rather proprietal towards him…”You can listen Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio here or via the Rayo app