David Tennant pulls out of Shakespeare shows

A spokesman said Tennant had tested his vocals at the theatre on Tuesday but felt unable to proceed

Former Doctor Who star David Tennant was forced to pull out of a West End production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing this week after losing his voice, it has emerged.

The actor missed two shows on Monday and Tuesday. Producers said he hoped to return to the stage on Wednesday.

Understudy Alex Beckett played Benedick opposite Catherine Tate's Beatrice in the 40-year-old's absence.

The production is due to end its sold-out run on 3 September.

Much Ado About Nothing opened at the Wyndham's theatre in June, receiving positive reviews from the critics.

In Josie Rourke's production, Shakespeare's romantic drama is transplanted from 17th Century Sicily to a sun-drenched holiday resort in the 1980s.

Scottish star Tennant has been forced to miss performances before while performing Shakespeare on the West End stage.

In 2008 a bad back forced him to pull out of a RSC staging of Hamlet at the Novello theatre for much of its London run.