EMMERDALE actress Christine Cox has enabled the show to go on at York Theatre Royal.

She took over a leading role only days before the opening night of the English stage premiere of Abandonment, a play by York-born writer Kate Atkinson.

Original cast member Joan Campion had to leave the production for personal reasons shortly before preview performances began on Friday.

Doncaster-born Cox had just completed a run in a revival of J B Priestley's comedy When We Are Married when she was asked to step into a role in Abandonment.

Director Damien Cruden said: "Learning a role in such a short space of time would be daunting for any actor, but I'm sure Christine can pull it off."

On TV, Cox was most recently seen as Eric Pollard's "other woman", Glynis, in ITV1's Yorkshire soap Emmerdale.

The production of Abandonment, which had its official first night yesterday, continues until April 26. For tickets, call (01904) 623568.