This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/8054470.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Leslie Ash joins Holby City cast Leslie Ash joins Holby City cast
(about 1 hour later)
Actress Leslie Ash is to return to TV screens in Holby City, five years after contracting a hospital superbug. Actress Leslie Ash is to return to TV screens in Holby City, five years after contracting a hospital infection.
The former Men Behaving Badly star still uses a walking stick after the infection left her partially paralysed.The former Men Behaving Badly star still uses a walking stick after the infection left her partially paralysed.
"It has taken a long, long time and I'm not perfect, but I'm ready to be back at work," Ash said in a statement."It has taken a long, long time and I'm not perfect, but I'm ready to be back at work," Ash said in a statement.
The 49-year-old will play scheming executive Vanessa Lyton. Her first scenes will be filmed in June ahead of the hospital drama's return in October.The 49-year-old will play scheming executive Vanessa Lyton. Her first scenes will be filmed in June ahead of the hospital drama's return in October.
"I can't wait to be back on set. It's the last piece of the jigsaw in my recovery," said Ash."I can't wait to be back on set. It's the last piece of the jigsaw in my recovery," said Ash.
The star's character will also require assistance to walk - a fact that Ash is proud of.The star's character will also require assistance to walk - a fact that Ash is proud of.
"Disability is misrepresented on television and it's really fantastic that it did not worry the production team I was disabled."Disability is misrepresented on television and it's really fantastic that it did not worry the production team I was disabled.
"I could have sat myself down in a wheelchair and just gone through life, but there was this defining moment when you say to yourself: 'I am going to get up, I am going to work hard', and you put one foot in front of the other.""I could have sat myself down in a wheelchair and just gone through life, but there was this defining moment when you say to yourself: 'I am going to get up, I am going to work hard', and you put one foot in front of the other."
CompensationCompensation
Ash was admitted to hospital in April 2004 with two cracked ribs, after falling off her bed on to a table during a love-making session with her husband, retired footballer Lee Chapman.Ash was admitted to hospital in April 2004 with two cracked ribs, after falling off her bed on to a table during a love-making session with her husband, retired footballer Lee Chapman.
She had an epidural as part of her treatment and a few days later found that she had no feeling from her chest down.She had an epidural as part of her treatment and a few days later found that she had no feeling from her chest down.
The actress was told she had developed MSSA (Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus) which, unlike MRSA, does respond to standard antibiotic treatment.The actress was told she had developed MSSA (Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus) which, unlike MRSA, does respond to standard antibiotic treatment.
Last year, Ash was awarded a record £5m compensation from the Chelsea and Westminster hospital, where she acquired the infection.Last year, Ash was awarded a record £5m compensation from the Chelsea and Westminster hospital, where she acquired the infection.
The settlement included compensation for money she would have earned if she had carried on working.The settlement included compensation for money she would have earned if she had carried on working.
Ash first appeared on TV in a 1964 commercial for Fairy washing up liquid, and later won a role in cult film Quadrophenia.Ash first appeared on TV in a 1964 commercial for Fairy washing up liquid, and later won a role in cult film Quadrophenia.
She is most widely-recognised as Debs, the object of Neil Morrisey's infatuation in sitcom Men Behaving Badly.She is most widely-recognised as Debs, the object of Neil Morrisey's infatuation in sitcom Men Behaving Badly.