EASTENDERS and Love Actually star Martine McCutcheon has been forced to pull out of this weekend’s Clacton show due to illness.

The actress turned pop star was due to bring her Up Close And Personal tour to the West Cliff this Sunday.

But Martine was forced to pull out of the show on Monday.

A theatre spokesman said: “We have been informed late this afternoon the show has been cancelled as Martine has contracted a viral infection which means she can’t sing and talk.”

Martine first found fame on Albert Square as Tiffany Mitchell more than 20 years ago.

An astonishing 22 million viewers tuned in to watch her character being killed off in a special episode screened on New Year’s Eve in 1998.

Martine had already decided to leave the soap to pursue a pop career.

Debut solo album You, Me And Us went platinum and contained the number one single Perfect Moment.

West End and TV roles followed before she played a love-struck Natalie opposite Hugh Grant in Love Actually.

Now 41, happily married and mum to three-year-old Rafferty, Martine was due back on tour again after returning to the studio to record new album Lost And Found with musician hubby Jack McManus.

She was due to perform her hit songs alongside tracks from Lost And Found with her her acoustic band.

The show is not expected to be rescheduled. Refunds are available from the theatre box office and fans have been contacted by email.