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

Sir Ian McKellen, beloved English actor, has announced he will be taking a break from the stage for a year after suffering a fall.

McKellen, 83, tripped and fell while on holiday before Christmas and injured his foot. The injury has left him unable to walk properly and has forced him to cancel his upcoming performances in the play Harold Pinter's No Man's Land at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London.

In a statement, McKellen said: "I am very disappointed to announce that I will not be able to perform in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land at the Harold Pinter Theatre as planned. I tripped and fell over a loose paving stone before Christmas and have been nursing a foot injury ever since.

He continued: "I have been advised by my doctors that I need to rest the foot for a year in order to make a full recovery. This means that I will not be able to perform in any stage productions during that time.

McKellen is best known for his roles as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, as well as Magneto in the X-Men films. He is also a respected stage actor, having won two Olivier Awards and a Tony Award.

McKellen's injury is a blow to the theatre world, but it is hoped that he will make a full recovery and be back on stage soon.