Former I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Beverley Callard has heartbreakingly revealed she will not attend the live final this Friday — after doctors advised her against travelling while she continues treatment for breast cancer.
The 69-year-old actress, who was forced to quit the pre-recorded South Africa series last year due to sudden ill health, shared that she had been eagerly preparing to reunite with her fellow campmates — until medical advice changed everything.
Speaking in an emotional Instagram video from her home in Dublin, Beverley admitted she had been ready to fly back to England. She explained that everything had been booked, and she had been “so excited and looking forward to it,” but was ultimately told the journey and long night would be too much. She confessed she was “absolutely gutted” to miss the reunion.
Despite the disappointment, she reassured fans she would still be part of the night in her own way, saying she would be watching and joining via Zoom while resting and following doctors’ orders. In her caption, she added that it was a last-minute change of plans but insisted getting well had to come first.
Her absence comes after an emotional week, where Beverley watched back her dramatic jungle exit — a moment she now realises marked the beginning of her cancer journey.
Reflecting on the incident, she revealed she had collapsed briefly after entering the Bush Telegraph, recalling how she “lost consciousness for a little while” and simply didn’t feel like herself. Medical staff rushed her to a hut and made the call that she could not return to camp, despite her pleading not to be sent home. She admitted she had desperately wanted to prove she could go the distance — especially to show that older women are capable of taking on the challenge.
At the time, she told her campmates she’d had a “funny turn” and had no choice but to leave, saying she was devastated and didn’t want her journey to end. Fellow contestants were left shaken, with emotional reactions pouring in as they said the camp would not be the same without her.
Months later, Beverley received the life-changing diagnosis: early-stage breast cancer.
She has since undergone surgery, where doctors successfully removed the tumour. However, she later revealed the cancer had spread to one of her lymph nodes — though only in a small amount. Explaining the situation in simple terms, she described lymph nodes as being like a staircase, where cancer can “climb,” though in her case it had only reached the first step.
Doctors have now sent samples abroad to determine how aggressive the cancer is — a result that will decide whether she needs chemotherapy before radiotherapy, or can proceed directly with radiotherapy treatment.
Despite the uncertainty, Beverley has remained determined, previously insisting she will “beat this” as she continues her recovery journey.
Her time on the show, though cut short, remains something she treasures deeply. She described it as the experience of a lifetime, praising her fellow campmates as “the best bunch of people ever,” and admitting the adventure far surpassed her previous stint on the show back in 2020.
Now, as the live final approaches — hosted once again by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly — Beverley will be watching from afar, continuing her fight with strength, resilience, and the support of fans who have followed her journey every step of the way.
