I’m A Celebrity’s Richard Madeley RETURNS home after medical emergency

Richard Madeley appeared frail as he was pictured at his home on Friday following his departure from the I’m A Celeb castle, as he blamed low blood sugar as a possible cause for the emergency that drove him off the show.

The GMB presenter, 65, left the Welsh camp after falling ill on Thursday morning, prompting an emergency dash to a local hospital – which subsequently resulted in him breaking the Covid bubble formed with his campmates.

The star seemed in high spirits as he stepped out of his home while drinking a cup of tea and flashing a thumbs up at cameras before taking in a delivery of flowers following the dramatic events of the past week.

Speaking outside his home, Richard stated that he believed his condition was maybe down to ‘low blood sugar’, as he said: ‘I’m fine, it was very momentary, if it had happened at home I probably would have just called the doctor. Duty of care and that they can’t be seen to react…

‘So they called an ambulance I had a couple of blood tests and I was absolutely fine by then I was feeling normal. Maybe it was low blood sugar I don’t know. Then I realised I couldn’t get back in because of covid…

‘Had that been a normal year I would have been back in. I would have been out at the hospital for an hour, an hour and a half and I would have been back in and life would have gone on. I don’t think they’re gonna replace me.

In a statement Richard, who was believed to be treated at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, reassured fans that he’s ‘fine’ after his health scare, but confirmed he had to quit the series after breaking the show’s ‘Covid bubble.’

Richard appeared keen to show all is well in Camp Madeley as he emerged to greet photographers following the heartbreaking blow that forced him off the show.

Richard’s illness came after a gruelling bushtucker trial in which he crawled through fish guts and rotting fruit and vegetables which he complained were cold before eating a squirrel for dinner.

As the star’s departure from the 2021 series was due to medical reasons and not from quitting of his own accord, it is thought he will get his full salary – which is believed to be £200,000 – after just four days in the jungle.

In his original statement, Richard also said: ‘With Simon Gregson and Adam Woodyatt going in, I mean they’re brilliant signings as well, but Dickie was very much a marquee signing.

‘The duty of care would have been paramount with Richard on set, and there is an on set medical team at all times as well, but it was felt that perhaps it was escalated to take him to hospital for a reason, and a very valid reason, because Richard no doubt would have protested.’

In a major blow to the show as one of their top signings, the broadcaster was taken ill hours after participating in a gruelling trial and complaining about the castle’s freezing temperatures.

In a statement to fans, 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…

‘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.’

An I’m A Celebrity spokesperson added: ‘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 source also told MailOnline: ‘Richard is devastated. He was doing his best in the trials and embracing every part of life in camp, this isn’t the way he saw his I’m A Celeb journey ending.

‘Richard going back to camp would pose as too much of a risk to the other contestants, who have isolated and formed a bubble to protect themselves from a possible Covid-19 outbreak on set. Everyone on the show will miss him – he’s been a huge part of camp and it’s so disappointing he won’t be able to return.’

His return comes amid fears that I’m A Celebrity bosses have made this year’s series too tough. The ITV show has been dramatically thrown into chaos after three of the contestants – Dame Arlene Phillips, Naughty Boy and Frankie Bridge – also sought urgent medical treatment.

To make matters worse, its viewing figures have plummeted by 3 million on last year down to 5.92 million.

Former Strictly judge Arlene, who at 78 is the oldest contestant on the series, is reportedly being medicated for ‘chronic pain’. Music producer Naughty Boy, 36, is said to be struggling mentally and Saturdays singer Frankie has developed a rash, The Sun reported.

A spokesman for I’m A Celebrity refused to be drawn on whether this year’s series is too tough for the contestants when approached by MailOnline for comment.

Normally, the celebrities head to sunny Australia to complete horrific challenges which involve handling creepy crawlies and eating ‘wobbly bits’. However, the past two series have taken place in damp and cold Wales because of the pandemic.

The show’s producers previously told MailOnline how they had planned on making this year’s series even harder for the stars. I’m A Celebrity has been running so long, they argued, that they wanted to throw in extra challenges to keep the contestants ‘on their toes’.

Bosses have scheduled one terrifying bushtucker trial every day of the programme, which airs for three weeks – meaning there will be 25 cruel challenges in total.

Five celebrities were forced to spend their first few nights in a brand new rival camp where they had to endure hellish living conditions. They have been forced to sleep on the cold hard floor, shower in the dark while having to keep hold of a chain to release water, and brush their teeth in a grubby sink – as well as relive themselves in a cramped privy.

I’m A Celeb creative director Tom Gould told MailOnline: ‘We needed to make this year tougher. We need to keep on pushing the celebrities.

‘Last year we were quite anxious because we didn’t know what we were going to face, we didn’t know how cold it was going to be or if the celebrities would be able to stick it out. They survived, just, so now we’re going to push them even further every series and make sure we keep them on their toes, so they don’t know what is coming.

‘The show has been running for so long now that there are people that know it really, really well so we need to keep the surprise element. It means we have upped our game.’