Edinburgh Fringe comedian John Tothill was forced to suspend his production Thank God This Lasts Forever due to his appendix bursting. The show was scheduled to run through August 25 at Pleasance Courtyard.

Tothill has undergone emergency surgery overnight, and hopes to return to the Fringe before the end of the month.

Says Tothill's press reps: "We can confirm that John and his appendix have today made the difficult and painful decision to separate due to this dichotomy in creative vision.

"John has announced his absolute determination to have the operation today (Monday 12th Aug) and be back on stage as soon as he is medically and legally allowed; an ambitious goal but one which John says is in-keeping with his long-term aim of being an infirm and frail national treasure. This will, of course, only be with the approval of his doctors and he will, of course, take the whole thing day-by-day."

Tothill became somewhat infamous in Fringe circles after deliberately contracting malaria in a clinical trial to fund his 2023 Edinburgh debut. The trial nearly killed him, but he had returned to full health prior to his unexpected appendectomy.

Strangely, the cavalcade of calamity is fitting for Tothill; Thank God This Lasts Forever centers on the increasingly bizarre injuries and illnesses that have descended upon Tothill in the year since his 2023 debut. The comic’s stand-up has been featured on Comedy Central Live and he has recently supported Fiona Allen on her U.K. tour.

The Playbill team is currently in Edinburgh covering the Fringe. Check out our coverage here.