Sir Alan Ayckbourn, writer of more than sixty plays, is recovering from a stroke in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

He said "I hope to be back on my feet, or at least my left leg, as soon as possible. I know it's going to take some time."

Sir Alan has written a variety of plays in a variety of styles, but is perhaps best known for his comedies including Bedroom Farce, Absurd Person Singular and A Small Family Business. He has also long been associated with the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where his career began as an 18-year-old actor.

His first major sucess came in 1967 with the play Relatively Speaking, which transferred to the West End in London.

We're sure that somewhere in the near future a play about being stuck in a hospital may well be on the cards...