I’m A Celeb star forced to drop out of ITV final as they issue heartbreaking statement

Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has revealed she’s been forced to pull out of the live I’m A Celebrity South Africa final on medical grounds, weeks after her cancer surgery

Beverley Callard has sadly been forced to pull out of the live I’m A Celeb South Africa final on Friday (April 24) due to medical issues.

The actress, famed for playing Corrie’s Liz McDonald, had previously been forced to quit the star-studded jungle spin-off after dealing with health issues. She has now revealed doctors have advised her not to make the trip from her home in Ireland to London for the final.

Although I’m A Celebrity… South Africa is pre-recorded, one campmate will be crowned the winner in front of a live studio audience in London. The finalists are Adam Thomas, Harry Redknapp, Sir Mo Farah and Craig Charles.

And Beverley has told fans she’s “gutted” she won’t be there, despite having booked her flights. The 69-year-old was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in February this year, four months after filming the ITV series.

She underwent surgery this month to remove the cancer, which had spread to a lymph node. Beverley has now posted a video to explain why she can’t be there at the final.

She said: “Yesterday, I should have flown to England to get ready for the I’m A Celeb final.” Beverley added: “I was so excited and looking forward to it, but on medical advice, I can’t go, I am absolutely gutted.

“I was dying to see them all, and it would have been brilliant. I can’t go, and yesterday, the flights were booked and everything, but no, they said, it is basically too long a day with flying there and then a very late night, so here I am.

“I will be watching, and I will be on Zoom chatting to everybody. So I’ve got to make the best of a bad job, but I am resting, and I am doing as I am told. Thanks to everybody.”

She captioned the post: “A last-minute change of plans…Absolutely gutted, but I know it’s for the best. Resting up and getting well is more important at the moment.”

Earlier this week, Beverley made an unexpected departure from the camp after suffering from a “funny turn,” which she later discovered was the “start” of her battle with breast cancer. Speaking on social media on Tuesday night, Beverley explained: “I just watched my exit on I’m A Celeb, and it made me cry all over again.

“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. What happened was, I went into the Bush Telegraph, 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.’ And I said, ‘Don’t say that, don’t send me home, I’ll be fine’. I wanted to succeed and make it through to the end, but that was the start of everything. It’s made me really emotional, but I will beat this. I will beat it.”

Announcing her exit to her campmates, Beverley said: “I’ve got something to tell you all. I didn’t feel very well this morning, and I had a bit of a funny turn, and they’ve said I can’t come back in. I’ve got to go. I’m absolutely gutted. I don’t want to go.”

Last week, Beverley revealed her cancer surgery had been a success, with doctors removing the disease. However, she disclosed that it had spread to a lymph node and had been sent to America for testing.

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