Richard Madeley leaves I’m A Celebrity after being taken to hospital and 'breaking Covid bubble'
After leaving the set of I'm A Celebrity, Richard Madeley broke the 'Covid bubble' and is unable to return, ITV News Correspondent Rebecca Barry reports
Richard Madeley said he is "gutted" as he confirmed he will not be returning to the ITV show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here after being taken to hospital.
The Good Morning Britain presenter was taken to hospital in the early hours of Thursday due to a sudden illness but because he had "broken the Covid 'bubble'", he is unable to return to the set of the reality series.
The 65-year-old became unwell in the early hours of the morning, and was tended to by the show's medical team before he was taken to hospital as a "precaution".
In a statement, Madeley assured viewers and fans that he is "absolutely fine".
He explained: "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…
"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."
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Daughter Chloe Madeley, who had spoken to her father, also told ITV News the TV presenter was "absolutely fine".
She said ITV took Madeley to hospital as a precaution because he had taken funny turn.
She said: "Because he's broken the Covid bubble, he now can't return to the camp."
I'm A Celebrity said in a statement: "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."
A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 05.43am this morning, Thursday, November 25, 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."
In Wednesday's episode of I'm a Celebrity, Madeley slid head first into a sewer of rotten fruit and vegetables during a trial called Castle Kitchen Nightmares.
Madeley had to hunt for 10 hidden stars in a room "full of castle critters" as rotten food was dumped on him.
The reality TV show usually takes place in Australia, but Covid travel restrictions mean the show is again set at Gwrych Castle in Wales. It is the second year the show has been filmed there.