Star starts to regret it backstage (5)

I believe the answer is:

rigel

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'star' is the definition.
(star in the constellation Orion)

'starts to regret it backstage' is the wordplay.
'starts to' suggests taking the first letters.
'backstage' becomes 'gel' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
The initial letters of 'regret it' is 'ri'.
'ri'+'gel'='RIGEL'

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(Other definitions for rigel that I've seen before include "Orion's brightest star" , "Brightest star in Orion" , "shiner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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