Chloe Madeley praises 'calm, kind and funny' dad Richard as he QUITS I'm A Celeb

Chloe Madeley praises 'calm, kind and funny' dad Richard as he QUITS I'm A Celeb
Chloe Madeley praises 'calm, kind and funny' dad Richard as he QUITS I'm A Celeb

Chloe Madeley has thanked fans for their messages of support after her father Richard's early departure from I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 

The Good Morning Britain host, 65, left the Welsh camp after falling ill in the early hours of Thursday morning, prompting an emergency dash to a local hospital. 

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.'

Chloe, 34, has since reiterated that he is good spirits, but devastated to be leaving the castle at such an early stage in the competition.  

 

Reaching out: Chloe Madeley has thanked fans for their messages of support after her father Richard's early departure from I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Reaching out: Chloe Madeley has thanked fans for their messages of support after her father Richard's early departure from I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

She told Instagram followers: 'Thanks so much for all the 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 into 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.'   

In a second Instagram post she added: 'He's absolutely fine and back to his usual irrepressibly chirpy self! Gutted for him - he was doing so well and just loving it. 

'We're proud and watching him each night this week was one of the funniest things I can remember. 'And good luck to all the other celebs and their fams watching nervously at home. Well jel - seriously.'  

Thank you: Chloe shared a second post with Instagram followers later that day

Thank you: Chloe shared a second post with Instagram followers later that day 

'Unforgettable': Richard Madeley revealed he's been forced to leave the show after being rushed to hospital and breaking the show's 'Covid bubble'

In a major blow to the show as one of their top signings, the broadcaster, who was paid an estimated £200,000 to star in this year's competition, 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.'

Gross! The broadcaster, who was paid an estimated £200,000 to star in this year's competition, was taken ill hours after participating in a gruelling trial

Gross! The broadcaster, who was paid an estimated £200,000 to star in this year's competition, was taken ill hours after participating in a gruelling trial

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.

'Gutted': In a statement Richard, who was believed to be at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, reassured fans that he's 'fine' after his health scare

'Gutted': In a statement Richard, who was believed to be at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, reassured fans that he's 'fine' after his health scare

'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.'

It had been thought that musician DJ Locksmith had been enlisted as a standby contestant, but no one is set to replace Richard in the castle. 

It's also thought that Richard will still be paid his full fee for his time on the show, despite spending just four days in the castle. 

An ITV spokesperson previously revealed that Richard had been hospitalised in the early hours of Thursday morning after falling ill

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT Abbie Chatfield shows off her toned figure in a skimpy pink houndstooth bikini ... trends now