Richard Madeley has been forced to quit I'm A Celebrity for breaking the castle 'covid bubble' when he was rushed to hospital after falling ill and suffering a seizure in the early hours of the morning.
The ITV show has been full of drama - and this latest shock departure comes just days after Naughty Boy and Arlene Phillips had threatened to quit, with fans wondering who left I'm A Celebrity last night?
Who won I'm A Celebrity 2021? has since been revealed.
The Good Morning Britain host is one of the ten 2021 campmates taking part in this year's show and viewers tuned in to episode four to see him go solo as he took on the Castle Kitchen Nightmares challenge after being voted by the public to do the bushtucker trial.
After searching high and low for stars in a grotty kitchen, Richard slid headfirst into a cold pit of rotting fruit and fish guts as he scrambled to search for more stars. He struggled untying knots on the hanging rewards but managed to win four stars during the task, but he was left feeling disappointed he hadn't collected more, nevertheless the camp got to eat a meal of Squirrel.
But panic spread throughout the camp in the early hours of this morning when the TV presenter took a turn, and medics had to be rushed into Gwrych Castle, where the show is filmed,
Richard, 65, who was the fifth favourite to win the contest, was taken to a nearby hospital for medical checks.
And Richard has since updated fans on his condition as he breaks the news that he has been forced to quit the show completely.
He uploaded a post to his Instagram which reads, 'Hello all! Richard here – firstly just to say that I’m absolutely FINE. I started to feel briefly unwell in the small hours of the morning and was taken to hospital as a precaution. By leaving the camp, I had consequently broken the Covid ‘bubble’ and as such, I’ve had to leave the castle and all the wonderful celebs that remain in the camp.'
He continued, 'Obviously I’m gutted to be leaving so soon but the safety of all the campmates is the number one priority. I’m incredibly excited to watch their journey continue…even more so at the prospect of being somewhere a little warmer than Gwrych Castle.'
He concluded, 'Thank you to everyone who supported me on my brief but completely unforgettable adventure – I’ve made some great friends and honestly had the time of my life. Speak soon, Richard x'
At the time the news broke of the medical emergency, a source told The Sun, "It was horrifying - campers were really upset and concerned, all of the crew and medics rushed to set to help him.
“It was a real scare for everyone involved."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy4WXG2mGQs
Bosses at I'm A Celebrity have since released this statement on Twitter, 'News from Camp: Richard was unwell in the early hours and was immediately seen by our on-site medical team.
'He's since been taken to hospital as a precaution, the health and safety of our campmates is our priority.'
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said, “We were called at 05.43am this morning, Thursday 25 November 2021, to reports of a medical emergency at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, Conwy.
“We sent a paramedic in a rapid response car and an emergency ambulance to the scene, and one patient was taken to hospital.”
Fans of the show wondering what days I'm A Celebrity is on have been sending their get-well messages to the star.
One fan wrote, 'Sad to see you go so soon as thought you were fab but glad you’re ok - and health always comes first! X'
Another fan put, 'Oh no sorry to hear this, but glad you’re ok. I had a bet on you Richard, I was convinced you’d be crowned King of the Jungle!'
And a third fan added, 'So gutted but glad you are well ❤️get back to GMB now lol.'
Last night viewers were told former Coronation Street star Simon Gregson and EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt would be joining the camp as a pair of late additions but not before facing a trial.
I'm A Celebrity is on nightly on ITV at 9pm/9.15pm.
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