Beverley Callard reveals breast cancer diagnosis after I’m A Celebrity filming

Beverley Callard said breast cancer was discovered just 15 to 20 minutes before she was due to start filming a new role in RTÉ’s Fair City, a shock that placed the diagnosis at the center of a story that had already been playing out on television screens. The 68-year-old Coronation Street favourite, who spent three decades as Liz McDonald in the Rovers Return, said the cancer was in its “very early stages” and that doctors planned further tests on her lymph nodes and lymph glands, followed by an operation and radiotherapy.

Her account matters beyond one performer’s health because it shows how easily serious illness can remain hidden until it is picked up by chance, even in someone still working, travelling and appearing publicly well. Callard’s diagnosis was announced on 6 February 2026, but confusion later grew among viewers watching I’m A Celebrity… South Africa, where she had also appeared.

Callard addressed that confusion in April, explaining on Instagram that the series had been filmed “a little while ago,” before she knew she had cancer. When her exit episode aired on 21 April 2026, she said it made her cry again. She added that the final days in camp were when she “hadn’t felt very well,” and said she lost consciousness on the show, which contributed to her being forced to leave for health reasons.

The timing highlights a public health reality that is often missed in entertainment coverage: physically demanding productions can mask symptoms, and outwardly healthy-looking participants may still be dealing with an undiagnosed condition. Callard told fellow campmates she was “absolutely gutted” to be leaving, underscoring how quickly a reality-show storyline can turn into a health emergency.

ITV’s press materials list Callard among the returning All Stars contestants for I’m A Celebrity… South Africa, alongside Adam Thomas, Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, David Haye, Craig Charles, Gemma Collins, Jimmy Bullard, Harry Redknapp, Seann Walsh, Sinitta and Sir Mo Farah. The South Africa series returned in April 2026 after the debut All Stars run in 2023, with Callard’s experience now standing as a reminder that cancer can develop quietly, and that symptoms dismissed during intense work can carry real consequences.