Sick Attenborough Quits Film

The 85-year-old Oscar winner was admitted to St George's Hospital in Tooting, West London on 18 December (08) after he fell and slipped into a coma.

He regained consciousness and was kept under observation by concerned doctors throughout the Christmas period.

Five months on, Attenborough is still being treated at a South London medical facility, and a spokesman for the actor admits he hasn't regained his health and won't be taking on any more film roles until he has fully recovered.

Attenborough's manager, Derek Webster, says, "He's just not well enough. It is immensely frustrating for him but I can't see him taking on any more roles in the foreseeable future. He has no other projects coming up and no plans to take on any. He's still in the rehabilitation centre as an inpatient. We hope he will be out soon, but we can't say when."

Attenborough was due to tackle his 74th film role this summer (09) in historical movie Ironclad, alongside Robert Carlyle, James Purefoy and Pete Postlethwaite.