James Van Der Beek too sick for Dawson's Creek reunion

James Van Der Beek has dropped out of the Dawson’s Creek reunion after being struck down with “two stomach viruses”.

The cast of the hit teen TV show had been due to get back together at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City on Monday for a live reading of the pilot episode in aid of the F Cancer charity, but James - who is battling stage 3 colorectal cancer - has been forced to cancel after falling ill.

He explained the decision in a message posted on Instagram, writing: “This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January ...

“So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment.

“Despite every effort ... I won’t get to be there. I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most.”

The event will still go ahead with cast members Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson - and James will be replaced by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who will take on the part of Dawson Leery for the table read.

James went on to add: “I DO have an understudy. A ridiculously overqualified replacement ...

“The role of Dawson, usually played by James Van Der Beek ... Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Can’t believe I just got to type that.”

Fellow cast members Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps will also be part of the reunion.

Jason Moore, one of the show’s original directors, will take the reins on the reading, while Michelle, her husband Thomas Kail, and Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson are among the producers.