THE star of Thurrock’s pantomime insisted the show must go on after being hurt in a smash on the A13 - just a day into rehearsals.

Wain Douglas, who is playing Dame Tilly Trot in this year’s spectacular at the Thameside Theatre, was on his way home from his first rehearsal when two cars behind him crashed, knocking him off his motorcycle.

Wain was knocked out, taken to hospital and then spent three days in bed.

Despite missing almost a quarter of the rehearsals, the West End actor rejoined the rest of the cast in ensuring the panto’s opening weekend was a huge success.

The actor, who has appeared in numerous West End shows over the last 15 years, was told by doctors not to put any weight on his injured right leg for three weeks.

But on Saturday night, he took to the stage in trainers and pushed on.

Wain said: “It was crazy.

“I had just got onto the A13 at Grays and two cars were merging behind me. One hit the other and span out of control, hitting me.

“I could never give the show up.”

The accident happened just before 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 27. The road was closed for two hours.

Wain is yet to recover his wrecked motorcycle from an East London lock up.