AS Boycie in TV’s Only Fools and Horses, actor John Challis was used to things going against him.

But even the fictional second hand car dealer could not have predicted the chain of events to affect his alter-ego since he came to the North-East to star in pantomime.

At the weekend, it emerged that Mr Challis recently returned to his luxury suite at the Marriott Hotel, Sunderland, to find it had been stripped of furniture apart from a king-size bed.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex had checked in unexpectedly, leading hotel staff to borrow his table, chairs, sofa and writing desk for the royal couple.

The 67-year-old, who is appearing as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Sunderland Empire, is said to have accepted replacement furniture with good grace.

It follows a recent storm over a Christmas tree in Sacriston, County Durham, dubbed the worst in Britain, for which Mr Challis switched on the lights.

Asked about the hotel incident, Mr Challis told The Mail on Sunday: “This happened a month ago and it is not really something I want to talk about. The royals seem to get a bashing every day over something, so I don’t think I’ll get involved.”

Hotel spokeswoman Elaine Ellis said: “Any changes to a guest room during a guest’s stay would be made for essential operational reasons only.”