Charlie Lawson’s partner Debbie Stanley feared the worst when she heard an audience member shout out there was "another Tommy Cooper situation" while he suffered a stroke on stage.
The ‘Coronation Street’ star experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA) on the opening night of his portrayal of the titular inspector in play ‘Rebus’ last year, while a "helpless" Debbie look on from the audience.
Speaking about the inappropriate comment – which is a reference to the late legendary comedian’s death aged 64, when he collapsed of a heart attack while filming variety show ‘Live from Her Majesty’s’ in 1984 – Debbie said: "Somebody shouted out, ‘We’ve got another Tommy Cooper situation.’
"So if I could’ve got to them I would’ve done …"
Debbie admits the situation was the "worst experience of my whole life" but is glad theatre staff looked after the ‘Corrie’ actor.
She said: "I knew something was wrong, because I’ve watched the show so many times. I just thought, ‘Oh no, he’s not right.’
"I knew he hadn’t forgotten his lines because he has never done that before.
"But I just looked at his face and then I heard him.
"It was the worst experience of my whole life. Somebody had to come and find me.
"I was helpless. But they did look after him."
Charlie – who plays Jim McDonald on ‘Corrie’ – insists he is "one of the lucky ones" to still be alive, and admits the incident "affected [him] emotionally" for a few months afterwards.
Speaking in a joint interview on ‘Loose Women’, he added: "I’m fine, I was one of the lucky ones. But when you have a TIA it changes your outlook on life.
"You look at mortality in the face and you embrace it. But I’m fine.
"I did need to just switch off. It affected me emotionally for a couple of months and you do need to sit back and you learn to appreciate more the people you treasure."
Charlie Lawson’s partner feared Tommy Cooper stage moment
