Out British Sir Ian McKellen has left New Zealand - without visiting the set of Shortland Street for a cameo appearance. The 68-year-old star was offered a small role in the long-running TV2 drama - possibly as a nurse or hospital cleaner. However, the Royal Shakespeare Company's publicist in New Zealand Sally Woodfield told The New Zealand Herald that "due to the timeframe he was unable to do it". "In the time he had off here he had particular people he wanted to catch up with." Sir Ian had lunch with Sir Edmund Hillary and caught up with film director Peter Jackson who he'd worked with on the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Ref: NZ Herald (m)