Beverley Callard Leaves I'm A Celebrity After Collapse
Soap actress Beverley Callard was compelled to exit the ITV reality series I'm A Celebrity... South Africa after collapsing in the jungle camp prior to her cancer diagnosis.
Callard, renowned for her role as Liz McDonald in Coronation Street, disclosed in February that she has breast cancer.
During the episode aired Tuesday, which was filmed in September before her diagnosis, Callard became emotional and tearful as she announced her departure from the jungle, expressing she was "absolutely gutted."
In a video posted on Instagram the same day, Callard described passing out after feeling unwell.
"Of course, I didn't know then that I had cancer, but I just knew that it was the last couple of days there that I hadn't felt very well,"she said.
'That Was the Start of Everything'
The 69-year-old actress, also known for Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, explained:
"I went into the Bush Telegraph [the show's video diary room] and apparently I lost consciousness for a little while. I just wasn't feeling myself.
They took me to a medical hut, and they were amazing, they really looked after me and they said, 'You can't go back'.
I said, 'Don't send me home, I'm sure I'll be fine'. I've jumped out of a plane, I've hung off a cliff, and I did want to succeed and make it through to the end. But that was the start of everything, really.
So it's made me really emotional. But I will beat this. I will beat it."
In the caption accompanying her video, she wrote:
"I wanted to prove that age is just a number and I feel so proud of what I achieved. Just got to get through this real life trial now."
On the episode, Callard was seen telling fellow celebrities:
"I didn't feel very well this morning. I had a bit of a funny turn and they've said I can't come back in. I've got to come out."
"I don't want to go, I'm really sorry. I'm absolutely gutted. I wanted to finish. I wanted to prove that older women could do it."
She received comfort from campmates including former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt.
After Callard's exit, Moffatt commented to the cameras:
"Selfishly, I would want Bev to stay, because she's like everyone's camp mam, but her health is more important."
Singer Sinitta added:
"Beverley is my inspiration.
You know that thing where you think, well, if Beverley can do it, I can do it. She gives me that. She's an amazing woman."
Jimmy Bullard and Adam Thomas Clash
Meanwhile, Tuesday's episode featured further tension when Adam Thomas confronted Jimmy Bullard after Bullard quit the show, seemingly causing Thomas's elimination.
The two had partnered for a trial against other campmates, with the losing pair set to leave the programme.
Former footballer Bullard did not participate when the trial began and forfeited by saying "I'm a celebrity get me out of here." This left Thomas, who endured being covered in ants during the challenge, visibly angry.
Thomas shouted:
"Jim, don't do this bro, come on! Is that how we're going out, yeah?"
Bullard apologized, explaining he had "had enough."
Thomas then exited his wooden cage and launched a profanity-filled tirade at Bullard before walking away. Bullard called Thomas's reaction "pathetic."
Bullard told other contestants:
"I just weren't feeling it."
Back at camp, Thomas confronted Bullard again:
"What's up with you, bro? If you wanted to go... go. Don't take me with you. What is up with you? Tell me why.
All you had to do is run through some mud and you said, 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here'."
Bullard said he wanted to leave, prompting Thomas to respond that Bullard should have quit alone or not joined the show.
However, Thomas was granted a reprieve when hosts Ant and Dec allowed the other campmates to decide if he should remain, and they unanimously voted for his continuation.
