THE show will go on.

That’s the message from devastated actors at a drama group after a popular cast member died during a Christmas pantomime.

Bev Smith had just finished his opening scene as Sarah the Cook, the pantomime dame, during a performance of Dick Whittington and his Cat at the Curdridge Reading Rooms.

But as he was waiting in the wings to come back on stage, the 70-year-old, from Swanmore, suddenly collapsed in front of stunned cast and crew.

The show immediately came to a halt and theatregoers were informed that somebody had been taken ill.

A member of the audience with medical experience rushed backstage to help and ambulance crews soon arrived at the scene.

But despite efforts to keep him alive, the grandfatherof- two was later pronounced dead.

Last night, his good friend Geoff Appleby said that the final five scheduled performances would be completed in his honour – at the request of the family.

The role of pantomime dame will be carried out by another actor until the curtains close on the production for the final time on Saturday night.

Mr Appleby, who has also been involved in the Curdridge Amateur Drama Group production, told the Daily Echo: “I think we are almost numbed by the shock.

“Bev had just finished his first scene and received applause for it.

“Then he was coming back up for his next part and he just collapsed.

“We were all absolutely shaken and there were a lot of tears as people began to realise what had happened.

“He was hugely popular within the group and a lovely character, intelligent, well-read and very well respected.

“It is not until someone is not there that you realise how many marvellous things you do miss about them.”

Mr Smith, who was born in Herefordshire, had been involved in the television industry throughout his career.

He had also been a popular member of Hamble Valley Rotary, which last night described him as “a wonderful personality” who was central to everything it did.

His daughter Joe Griffiths said: “He was the life and soul of any party.

“My dad always saw the positives in everything and always had a smile on his face.

“We are comforted by the fact that he loved playing to an audience and he was doing what he is brilliant at doing.”

Mr Smith leaves his wife, Pat, three children and two grandchildren.