I’m a Celebrity South Africa star pulls out of live final

It comes just days after doubts were raised over Jimmy Bullard’s attendance, following an explosive row during filming with Adam Thomas.

Although Jimmy has now confirmed he will be appearing on tonight’s (April 24) ITV show, when viewers will vote for their I’m a Celeb ‘ultimate legend’, sadly, Beverley Callard will not be there.

The Coronation Street favourite who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February issued an update to fans on her TikTok account yesterday (April 23).

Why is Beverley Callard not attending I’m a Celebrity final tonight?

In the caption alongside a video message, she shared: “A last minute change of plans…Absolutely gutted but I know it’s for the best. Resting up and getting well is more important at the moment.”

Beverley, who currently lives in Dublin, went on to explain: “Yesterday I should have flown over to England to get ready for the I’m a Celeb final which is tomorrow at 7.30pm.

“I was so excited and looking forward to it, and on medical advice I can’t go.

“So I’m absolutely gutted, I was dying to see them all, and it would have been brilliant, but I can’t go.”

Health professionals have told Beverley that attending the I’m a Celebrity South Africa final would be “too long a day” as she recovers from surgery.

She continued: “Flying there and you know, very late night… so here I am.”

However, the soap star will still be featuring in the live ITV final this evening and reuniting with her fellow campmates via Zoom, to “chat to everyone”.

Beverley added: “I’ve got to make the best of a bad job but I am resting, I am doing as I’m told, thanks to everybody.”

The actress was advised by medics to leave camp in the last week of the ITV reality show.

Beverley told the other celebrities she “didn’t feel well” after having “a bit of a funny turn”.

As she tearfully said her goodbyes, the 69-year-old said she was “absolutely gutted and wanted to finish” her time on the all-star show, and that she “wanted to prove that older women could do it”.

Since announcing her diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer, Beverley has documented her treatment on social media and has recently undergone surgery to remove the cancer.

Who is in the final of I’m a Celebrity South Africa 2026?

The four celebrities who have made it to Friday night’s final are Olympian Sir Mo Farah, former football manager Harry Redknapp, actor and DJ Craig Charles, and actor Adam Thomas.

Scarlett Moffatt just missed out and said she was “gutted” to become the latest campmate to be evicted during Thursday’s episode.

The Gogglebox star learnt she would be leaving the ITV programme after she came last in a trial, telling hosts Ant and Dec: “I felt like I was so close. I was the last girl standing.”

The challenge saw the celebrities have to count coloured balls as they rolled down a tube in front of them while they were showered with maggots, cockroaches, crickets and mealworms.

The five contestants were then asked how many blue balls there had been and were told that whoever’s estimate was the furthest from the correct figure would be evicted.

Thursday night’s instalment also saw the celebrities take part in the Cyclone challenge, which saw them have to clamber along a water slide to reach stars while being pelted with huge balls and sprayed with high-pressure hoses.

The group won the task, which resulted in them all receiving phone messages from their loved ones at home.

They also enjoyed a breakfast of 10 eggs between them after successfully catching them from a large “chicken” roosting in a tree above their camp.

The final of I’m a Celebrity South Africa will be shown from 7.30pm tonight on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

Let us know which celebrity campmate you will be voting for to win, in the comments below.