I’m A Celeb 2021 star makes shock exit

ITV has confirmed they won’t be returning to camp

I'm A Celeb Richard Madeley quits

by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

Richard Madeley has confirmed he won’t be returning to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! after being rushed to hospital in the early hours of the morning.

ITV confirmed that the TV presenter was attended to by medics at Gwrych Castle before being transferred to a nearby hospital by ambulance earlier today, although it wasn’t known if he would be able to carry on with the show.

A spokesperson has now announced that Richard sadly won’t be able to return to camp due to COVID guidelines.

I'm A Celeb Richard Madeley quits
©ITV Pictures

Why did Richard leave I'm A Celeb?

According to an I'm A Celeb spokesperson, Richard wasn't allowed to return to camp due to COVID protocols as he'd broken the bubble that the campmates form when the show started.

They said, “Our strict covid protocols means Richard has sadly had to leave the show as he is no longer in the bubble the celebrities form when entering the castle. He has been a truly brilliant camp mate and we thank him for being part of this series."

Richard issued a statement of his own and revealed that although he’s been forced to quit the show, he has returned to full health.

He said, “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.

“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…”

Richard added, “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.”

CHECK OUT I'm A Celeb winners - where are they now?

Gallery

All the I'm A Celebrity winners EVER (slider)

I'm A Celebrity winners now1 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2002: Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn was the first ever winner of I'm A Celeb back in 2002. He had a dramatic fall from grace in 2016 when he was sacked after 49 years working for the BBC, for failing to co-operate with the Jimmy Savile inquiry. He has since returned to the BBC and also hosts a podcast with Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson called Ricky and Tony's Pop Detectives.

I'm A Celebrity winners now2 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2003: Phil Tufnell

Since winning I'm A Celeb in 2003, Tuffers had a long-running stint as team captain on A Question of Sport from 2008 until earlier this year. He also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 and regularly appears on Test Match Special.

I'm A Celebrity winners now3 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2004: Kerry Katona

What hasn't Kerry been up to since winning the show in 2004? After starring in a series of fly-on-the-wall reality shows called Kerry Katona: Crazy in Love, Kerry Katona: Whole Again and Kerry Katona: What's the Problem?, she's appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebs Go Dating. Kerry also briefly rejoined Atomic Kitten in 2012.

I'm A Celebrity winners now4 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2004: Joe Pasquale

I'm A Celeb viewers were treated to not one but two series in 2004, with comedian Joe Pasquale inheriting the crown from Kerry Katona. These days, he continues to tour across the UK with his stand-up comedy shows. He also took part in the 2016 series of Tonight At The London Palladium on ITV and is the voice of Underdog, the cartoon dog mascot of National Accident Helpline.

I'm A Celebrity winners now5 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2005: Carol Thatcher

The journalist and author lives in Switzerland with her partner Marco Grass. In 2016, Carol blocked a proposed statue of her late mother, the former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, because the sculptor had neglected to include the Baroness' key accessory: her handbag. This, among other things has driven a deep wedge between Carol and her twin brother Denis Thatcher.

I'm A Celebrity winners now6 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2006: Matt Willis

After being crowned King of the Jungle in 2006, Matt and his Busted bandmate James Bourne formed a supergroup with McFly - brilliantly called McBusted. Matt and James then had a word with Charlie Simpson and got the band back together taking Busted back on tour with the original line-up, and releasing the song Coming Home. He's also starred in EastEnders and Birds Of A Feather. Currently, Matt is touring the UK in a production of the musical Waitress.

I'm A Celebrity winners now7 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2007: Christopher Biggins

After winning I'm A Celeb in 2007, actor Christopher Biggins won Celebrity Come Dine With Me in 2009, took part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2014 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2016. Biggins continues to work in pantomimes and received the Lifetime Achievement award at The Great British Pantomime Awards in 2017.

I'm A Celebrity winners now8 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2008: Joe Swash

Cheeky chap Joe Swash swapped EastEnders for the jungle and won the show in 2008. Since then, he's been all over TV and landed a job as host of the spin-off I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp in 2009. Last year, he won Dancing On Ice and regularly pops up on daytime TV faves This Morning and Loose Women. He got engaged to 2010 Jungle Queen Stacey Solomon in 2019 and has also welcomed two children with her.

I'm A Celebrity winners now9 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2009: Gino D'Acampo

The nation fell in love with Gino in 2009. Since winning the show, Gino is a regular fixture on TV screens from This Morning to Celebrity Juice and his Gino, Gordon and Fred shows with Gordon Ramsey and Fred Siriex.

I'm A Celebrity winners now10 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2010: Stacey Solomon

After showing off her bubbly personality on The X Factor, Stacey Solomon entered the jungle and won the show in 2010. Since then, she's been a regular panelist on Loose Women, brought out her own book, welcomed two children and gotten engaged to Joe Swash.

I'm A Celebrity winners now11 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2011: Dougie Poynter

McFly guitarist Dougie Poynter was crowned King of the Jungle ahead of TOWIE's Mark Wright in 2011. Since winning the crown, he's become a model and has created a new band, INK. He's still part of McFly though and regularly tours the country with the band.

I'm A Celebrity winners now12 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2012: Charlie Brooks

EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks couldn't believe it when Ant and Dec announced her as the winner in 2012. She continued her role as Janine Butcher on the show until 2014 when she left to go to Paris and recently returned to Albert Square earlier this year after seven years away.

I'm A Celebrity winners now13 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2013: Kian Egan

After 22 days in the jungle, Westlife star Kian Egan was crowned the King in 2013. He reunited with his Westlife bandmates in 2018 for an album and a tour. The boyband are also set to tour again next year and have a new album in the works.

I'm A Celebrity winners now14 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2014: Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty

Retired world super bike racer Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty won over the viewing public in 2014. He hasn't been seen a huge amount since then, unfortunately.

I'm A Celebrity winners now15 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2015: Vicky Pattison

Vicky Pattison showed a different side to her usual Geordie Shore antics, winning over the public and being crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2015. She since had a spot on the Loose Women panel, and even loved the jungle so much that she went back in for the Australian version in 2018, coming fourth place. She's since taken part in Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Coach Trip and also hosts her own podcast The Secret To.

I'm A Celebrity winners now16 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2016: Scarlett Moffatt

Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt was crowned Queen of the Jungle after winning the show in 2016. She's since had plenty of presenting roles and had a regular spot on the I'm A Celeb spin-off show alongside Joe Swash until it was axed in 2019.

I'm A Celebrity winners now17 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2017: Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo

Made In Chelsea star Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo was crowned 2017's Queen of the Jungle after beating Jamie Lomas. She's since presented backstage at the National Television Awards, been a reporter for This Morning, starred on Celebrity Gogglebox with campmate Stanley Johnson and released her own clothing collection.

I'm A Celebrity winners now18 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2018: Harry Redknapp

Football manager Harry Redknapp was crowned King of the Jungle in 2018, beating actors Emily Atack and John Barrowman to the top spot. He won over viewers with his heart melting praise of wife of nearly 60 years, Sandra. Harry and Sandra appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox the following year. They were most recently seen when their son Jamie married his girlfriend Frida Andersson-Lourie.

I'm A Celebrity winners now19 of 20
CREDIT: Getty

2019: Jacqueline Jossa

Since winning I'm A Celeb in 2019, former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa has launched a number of clothing collections with In The Style.

I'm A Celebrity winners now20 of 20
CREDIT: ITV Pictures

2020: Giovanna Fletcher

Giovanna Fletcher was crowned the first ever Queen of the Castle last year and recently announced that she was replacing Lily Allen in West End show 2:22 – A Ghost Story. She's also just released a new novel called Walking On Sunshine.

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Why did Richard go to hospital?

It was revealed earlier this week that Richard was taken to hospital in a “horrifying” emergency which left his concerned campmates upset.

A TV insider 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."

An ITV spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement which read, “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 spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service added, “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.”

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Although he’s not allowed to see his campmates in person, Richard has recorded a video message to send to his co-stars to let them know that’s okay. He will also chat to hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly on tonight’s show (Friday 26 November).

Despite reports that Rudimental star DJ Locksmith was in isolation as a stand-in, it’s been confirmed that Richard will not be replaced by a newcomer.

According to Richard's daughter Chloe, he's "livid" at not being able to return to camp. She gave an update to fans on Instagram and wrote, "Thanks for all your lovely messages. Dad’s absolutely fine, we’ve been speaking to him all day and ultimately, he’s just livid he can’t go back in to camp because of Covid restrictions.

"He did himself proud, though. He worked hard and was his calm, collected, kind and funny self. We are so proud."

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