THE star of a top York show has been forced to pull out after injuring his knee.

Andrew Derbyshire, 21, of Burnley, who shot to fame as a contestant in TV's Pop Idol, was starring in the lead role in a touring production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at the Grand Opera House.

But after dislocating his knee on Monday night, he is not expected to be able to return to the stage for at least a fortnight. Andrew told the Evening Press that he felt his knee give way immediately after coming off stage.

He said: "I came off stage and somebody knocked into to me. I fell to the floor in shock. I tried to stand up but I fell back again. I've never broken anything before."

The stage star said he managed to go out for the evening with friends in spite of what had happened, but when he woke up the following morning, his knee had completely swollen up. Doctors have told Andrew to rest his leg for at least ten days.

He said: "I was just thinking what a great week it was going to be up here. I said to the audience that it was so good to be back in the north."

Andrew's understudy, Gavin James Burke, who normally plays the role of Joseph for two performances a week, will continue in the role until the end of the York run on Saturday night.

A spokesperson for show producer Bill Kenwright Ltd said: "At this point, we obviously can't say how long Andrew will need to be off."

Updated: 10:42 Wednesday, March 31, 2004