Sir Ian McKellen has revealed what helped save him after he fell from the stage whilst performing on the West End in June.

The veteran 85-year-old actor was playing the role of Falstaff in a production of Player Kings at London's Noel Coward Theatre when he lost his footing during a fight scene.

He was taken to hospital and the play was cancelled for the rest of its London run.

In an interview with Saga magazine he revealed he is still in a neck brace and his right hand remains splinted.

Discussing the incident he said: "It was in the battle scene. My foot got caught in a chair, and trying to shake it off I started to slide on some newspaper that was scattered over the stage, like I was on a skateboard.

"The more I tried to get rid of it, the faster I proceeded down a step, onto the forestage, and then onto the lap of someone in the front row.

"I started screaming, 'Help me!' and then 'I’m sorry! I don’t do this!' Extraordinary things. I thought it was the end of something. It was very upsetting."

Ian McKellen reveals what helped save him from West End stage fall

Due to Falstaff being quite a portly character, McKellen was wearing a fat suit for the role, which he said helped save him from more serious injury.

He shared: "My chipped vertebrae and fractured wrist are not yet mended. I don’t go out because I get nervous in case someone bangs into me, and I’ve got agonising pains in my shoulders to do with my whole frame having been jolted.

"But I was wearing a fat suit for Falstaff and that saved my ribs and other joints. So I’ve had a lucky escape really but… tell Saga readers to watch their step!"

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Discussing not being able to return for the play's tour he added: "I don’t feel guilty, but the accident has let down the whole production.

"I feel such shame. I was hoping to be able to rejoin the play on the tour, but I couldn’t."

However, he does hope to return to the role sharing that perfecting Falstaff is "unfinished business" for him.