Craig McLachlan’s casting in his first role since facing sexual assault allegations in 2018 has lasted less than a week, with an online backlash sparking his withdrawal on Tuesday from John Frost’s production of Cluedo.

In a post on Instagram, an emotional McLachlan - whose mother died on Monday - blamed “a focused social media campaign ... deployed from within the theatre community” for his withdrawal. He lamented the “bullying and harassment” levelled against him and his family, as well as the two actors named in the Cluedo cast announcement alongside him – Genevieve Lemon and Grant Piro.