actor Robert Carlyle has been forced to pull out of an Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) event due to a mystery illness.

The Scots star was due to give a talk at one of the festival's In Person events on Sunday but organisers last night confirmed the show had been cancelled as they prepared for today's festival launch.

An EIFF source said officials were "very upset" at losing Carlyle, which presented a rare opportunity to hear the star talk about his impressive acting career.

The source added: "We've known he has been unwell since the weekend."

A statement on the EIFF website said: "Unfortunately, due to ill health, Robert Carlyle has had to cancel this In Person event.

"Tickets can be exchanged for the Jim Broadbent or Elliott Gould In Person events. If you would like to exchange your tickets, or require a refund, please contact the box office."

It has not been revealed what illness the actor, who starred in Trainspotting, The Full Monty and The World Is Not Enough, is suffering from.

This latest blow follows last year's troubled festival which, due to swingeing funding cuts, had to relocate to a student union building. Red carpet photo calls for visiting film makers and actors were also scrapped, along with the festival's long-running awards.

However, organisers insist they are hoping for a more successful 2012 programme.