Martine's return is just lovely

Martine McCutcheon was back on stage last night as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady after a month off sick, and she did it luvverly.

She appeared to have shaken off the severe throat infection that put her in intensive care, rousing the audience to a standing ovation which left her overwhelmed and visibly shaking on stage as she fought to hold back the tears.

Understudy Alexandra Jay, 18, a previous unknown who has made a huge impression in the role, sat watching from the stalls.

Despite a glorious comeback, Miss McCutcheon was not celebrating with co-stars Jonathan Pryce and Dennis Waterman last night but was spirited home in a waiting Mercedes. Smiling as she left, the 24-year-old told security staff: "It went really well. I felt fine."

The former EastEnders actress is not out of the woods yet. Live performances for the eight-shows-a-week production proved arduous and she was ill with flu on the opening night on 15 March, but carried on winning rave reviews.

After her first appearance, she had to be taken to hospital with a throat infection, sinusitis and blood-clotting. When she was discharged it was hoped she would soon be back at the National but her conditioned worsened and she spent 24 hours in intensive care.

For the past month she has been "too ill" to appear in the £5 million production. There remain suggestions that she is not yet well enough to manage more than sporadic performances for the forseeable future. Miss McCutcheon is now under a National Theatre doctor and her own specialist who will monitor her voice after each performance.

Agents have been queuing to line up her talented understudy. Miss Jay's spirited performances have bowled over critics and whipped up much-needed positive publicity for the National.

But last night belonged to Miss McCutcheon. Londoner Julia Scott had no qualms about awarding the star full marks: "She was just great, and I knew she'd be able to carry it off. It was superb fun, all helped of course by a great production and wonderful costumes. I just hope she'll be able to carry on for the next few weeks, but given her performance tonight I don't think there will be many who doubt she will be able to cope."