I'm a Celebrity contestants in tears at Craig Charles' departure

(Image credit: Eamonn and James Clarke/EMPICS E)

Craig Charles has left his fellow I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestants in tears after quitting the show following the death of his brother.

The actor flew home after being told of the death of his older brother, Dean, who reportedly had a heart attack at his home in Spain.

An emotional Vicki Michelle said he was a 'huge loss' to the camp, adding: "He was a lovely personality, cheeky chappy and we're all going to miss him, we got really upset."

Newsreader Michael Buerk said: "It's terrible for him and it is sad for us, too, really because he was a great guy to have around."

Viewers also saw Jimmy Bullard and Kendra Wilkinson refuse to get the hump when made to eat their way through a menu of dreadful dishes including camel, cockroaches, cows' lips and a bushbuck penis.

They also chewed through ostrich feet and sheep testicles on their way to winning all 10 stars, guaranteeing them food and alcohol for the camp.

The contestants, who also lost reality TV star Gemma Collins when she quit after just a couple of days, are about to be joined by two new faces - former MP Edwina Currie and X-Factor loser Jake Quickenden, who spent the night in a nearby jungle location.

The latest update of I'm a Celebrity showed Charles breaking the news that he would be leaving to his camp mates.

He said: "I'm out of here, guys", and went on to explain: "My brother died yesterday."

He added: "I've got to go and sort things out."

TV presenter Melanie Sykes said: "So gutted for Craig this morning, it really upset me, it's the worst thing that could happen here."

Kendra was told she would have to face the next Bushtucker Trial, Cockroach Shaker.

Presenters Ant and Dec told viewers that the other camp mates did not know that the two new arrivals were on a secret mission, of which more details would be given later.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.