Why did Olivia Attwood leave I'm a Celeb? Real reason confirmed

Why did Olivia Attwood leave I'm a Celeb? The Love Island star has revealed the real reason

Why did Olivia Attwood leave I'm a Celeb
(Image credit: ITV)

I'm a Celebrity had barely been back 24 hours and there was already drama to hit 2022 campmates with the news that Love Island star Olivia Attwood has been forced to pull out of the show, leaving fans wondering why has Olivia Attwood left I'm a Celeb?

Olivia, who was the first Love Island contestant to enter the jungle in the show's history, jetted to Australia when I'm a Celebrity started along with the other contestants, ready to spend just over three weeks having to complete gruesome challenges in order to win meal tokens for camp. 

But while her entry to the show looked promising, with some predicting Olivia could win the series, Olivia was voted a "Jungle VIP" - which in I'm a Celeb terms means a Very Isolated Person - and she was was joined by other "Jungle VIPs" to stay on a remote island for the night and compete in the first Bushtucker challenge.

As viewers ask who left I'm A Celebrity? Here's we know so far about Olivia's early exit from the jungle...

Why did Olivia Attwood leave I'm a Celeb?

Olivia Attwood has been forced to withdraw from competing in I'm a Celebrity on medical grounds. The star has since shared that the reason she had to quit the show was a blood test that revealed she was dangerously anaemic. 

Just 48 hours into this year's I'm a Celeb, the 31-year-old was called in for a medical check, with the test also flagging worrying sodium and potassium levels. On-site medics called the star to a private room and then rushed her to an A&E unit 30 miles from camp. This led producers to make the decision that it would be unsafe for Olivia to return to camp.

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Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Olivia said: 'I was so scared, I was like 'what the hell is wrong with me?' They couldn't give me an answer, they just told me that they had to get me to the hospital immediately.

"The results were really, really low when they put them into their reader and they consulted with another doctor off site. I had those bloods done in England before I left, and they were fine. I was confused and of course very, very worried."

Olivia went on to reveal that the test were repeated in the hospital and came back normal, but ITV bosses decided it was too risky to allow Olivia back in the jungle. When speaking about the moment she found out she wouldn't be allowed back into camp, Olivia said: "I was absolutely devastated. I'm not a crier but I started to cry, it was so emotional. I was heartbroken and gutted. I tried to keep my emotions in check and keep it in perspective, things could be so much worse."

After she initially left the jungle, rumours began to emerge that Olivia had been forced to leave because of breaking the show's Covid rules, but these reports were soon put to bed by the star's representatives. Heart reported that a close friend of Olivia's said: "The show is very Covid safe but the so-called bubble is not the same as it was in Wales.

"Mike Tindall was seen trying to throw a production member into the sea on the first day. He hugged her and was in complete contact with her and nothing was said.

"Other celebs are also coming into close contact with camera crew and production who come and go from site every day and are out at night as normal.

"It is very different to Wales when Richard Madeley wasn't allowed back for breaking the bubble."

A statement was released on Olivia's Instagram account after she failed to appear in the episode on Monday 7 November and Ant & Dec wished her well at the start of the show. It read, "To say Olivia is heartbroken would be an understatement, she's dreamed of doing I'm A Celeb for years, and was absolutely loving every second and throwing herself into jungle life feet first (just as we knew she would).

It continued, "However, for reasons before her control her journey has been cut short. Your support and kind words have meant the absolute world to her, now as much as always has. You will hear the truth from Olivia in due course and she will be back on your screens in the New Year. Ps. Who's going to roast Matt Hancock now?? :(("

A show spokesperson said at the time, "As a precautionary measure Olivia needed to leave the jungle to undergo some medical checks. Unfortunately, the medical team has advised it is not safe for Olivia to return to camp as there needs to be further investigation. She has been absolutely brilliant and she'll be very much missed on the show."

Shortly after the news broke, her fiancé Bradley Dack told MailOnline, Olivia is "fine" but will be "gutted" with the early departure. He admitted at the time he didn't know why she is leaving and added, "I just saw it in the news, like anyone else."

Olivia wasn't able to turn her phone on and see the reaction to her exit until she arrived at Brisbane airport on her way home. Sher revealed to the MailOnline that she then decided to delete her social media apps, to avoid upsetting herself further.

She said: "When I first got my phone back I saw clips of me on the show that showed my little happy face. It made me feel really sad – I didn't want to see them. I didn't want to see my entrance interview, it was a reminder of how exciting everything was just before it was taken away."

During her time on the show, Olivia chose Chris Moyles to join her as Jungle VIP, before climbing aboard a helicopter to jump out at 10,000ft. After completing the journey, Olivia touched down on the sand, joined by Chris. They were then united with Boy George and Scarlette Douglas - who had also been chosen as Jungle VIPs - and the four were tasked with completing the first bushtucker trial to win stars for meals in camp.

Where is Olivia Attwood now?

Olivia is back at her Manchester home, where she lives with fiancé Bradley Dack. She is being comforted by her beloved rescue dogs, Lola and Stitch. After fans shared their concern following the star's absence from social media, she took to Instagram to reassure her two million followers that she would "be back soon".

One Twitter user claims to have spotted the star at the airport, tweeting a photo with the caption, "Celeb camp looks nice this year. Olivia Attwood has left the jungle already.. spotted at the airport #ImACeleb #ImACelebrity #Imaceleb2022 @antanddec @oliviajade_att"

And fans have reacted to her leaving, one said, "What a shame she’d have stirred it up no end in there & put Matt in his place!! Hope she’s ok x"

Another fan put, "Gutted that had to leave, hope she’s ok! Was looking forward to her being her usual tv gold #ImACeleb @oliviajade_att"

And a third added, "That was very quick... hope she's ok!"

When asked if she will still receive the full fee for the show - reportedly between £100,000 to £125,000 - Olivia said, "We haven't discussed that yet."

I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! continues tonight ay 9pm on ITV.

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Selina Maycock
Senior Family Writer

Selina is a Senior Family Writer for GoodtoKnow and has more than 16 years years of experience. She specialises in royal family news, including the latest activities of Prince George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet. She also covers the latest government, health and charity advice for families. Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism, and gained her NCTJ and NCE qualifications. During her career, she’s also written for Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, and Woman's Weekly as well as Heat magazine, Bang Showbiz - and the Scunthorpe Telegraph. When she's not covering family news, you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories (including award-winning scarecrows!)

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