Freddie Starr has been forced to drop out of I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! after being advised by medics, in case his illness flares up again. The comic, 68, had to be rushed to hospital after suffering what was thought to be an allergic reaction shortly after chomping on some stomach-churning food.
Disappointed Freddie said he felt "sick" not to complete his stint in the Australian jungle but had to respect the opinions of doctors. "I wanted to be there until the very end but there's no use crying over spilt milk," he said.
Freddie, who has had bypass surgery, had been undergoing tests after he was taken ill two hours after the Bushtucker Trial challenge. He had won the "greasy spoon" trial after the determined comedian chomped through grim items, while fellow contestant Mark Wright looked on aghast. Doctors have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of the apparent allergic reaction.
After being told he could not continue with the ITV1 show, Freddie said: "I was sorry to hear the news about what the doctors said - that I was allergic to something, to play it safe and best for me not to go back in. ITV's got a duty of care and it's only right that the doctors advise them to keep me away from the jungle. It may not happen again but we'll never know. They couldn't find anything wrong with me physically. They checked me over and couldn't find anything wrong with me, but told the TV people it's a risk and that I could be allergic to something in there - and that duty of care ITV has, has to be respected."