Craig Charles on why he left ITV’s Coronation Street

The TV star and radio presenter is among the celebrities who have returned for the new series of I’m a Celebrity… South Africa, which began yesterday (March 6).

He was on the 14th series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2014, but left the series early after learning that his brother Dean had died after suffering a heart attack.

Now, he has spoken about the tragedy and revealed it led to him leaving the Cobbles in 2015.

Coronation Street star Craig Charles on why he left the ITV soap

Craig Charles played taxi driver Lloyd Mullaney on Coronation Street from 2005 to 2015.

His character, which was popular with viewers, was notably involved in the show’s dramatic 50th-anniversary tram crash storyline, which was broadcast live.

It was in May 2015 that Craig announced he would be leaving Coronation Street for Red Dwarf, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.

Now, he has spoken about the time as he rejoins the I’m a Celeb cast for another go at the ITV show.

Craig said: “The death of my brother, and my unexpected departure as a result, did change my life.

“It made me re-evaluate things and made me ask: ‘If that had happened to me, would I be happy with what I had achieved?’

“I came up with the answer and it was ‘no’.

“I was 50 at the time, my brother was 52, I had been in Corrie for ten years and I felt in a rut.

“I was really enjoying my time in the Australian jungle and it got sadly cut short.

Craig Charles has revealed he left Corrie in 2015 after the sad death of his brother (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

“I knew I wanted to have some new adventures after that.”

He also opened up on his readiness to return to the program and give it another go.

Craig said: “Since I left, there have been years of ‘what ifs?’

“At first, I’m A Celebrity felt bittersweet after I’d left, and in the first few years I couldn’t watch the show.

“It made me sad and it opened a world of loss.

“Every year it came around, I would feel a sense of loss and a feeling of what might have been – both for my brother and for me.

“He was only 52 and he would have been 63 now, which is no age.

“But that feeling has decreased over the years, and the last few years I have been able to watch it again without feeling the pain and the grief.

“And so, when this came round, it was at the right time. I feel strong and confident enough to face it again and have a laugh!”

Who is on I’m a Celeb South Africa 2026?

Craig is one of many famous faces that have returned to I’m a Celebrity for its all-stars series in South Africa.

The show returned for its second series on Monday (March 6), with former campmates taking on even more challenges and tougher Bushtucker trials.

A new element for the new series, which has been pre-recorded and hosted by Ant and Dec, will give the viewing public the power to decide who is crowned the “ultimate legend 2026”.

Here is the full lineup for the series:

• Harry Redknapp (former football manager – 2018 winner)
• Gemma Collins (reality TV star – 2014 series)
• Beverley Callard (Coronation Street star – 2020 series)
• Sir Mo Farah (Olympian – 2020 series)
• Scarlett Moffatt (former Gogglebox star – 2016 winner)
• David Haye (boxer – 2012 third place)
• Adam Thomas (actor and TV star – 2016 third place)
• Ashley Roberts (Pussycat Dolls singer – 2012 runner-up)
• Seann Walsh (comedian – 2022 series)
• Sinitta (pop star – 2011 series)
• Craig Charles (Red Dwarf star – 2014 series)
• Jimmy Bullard (footballer – 2014 series)

The first South Africa series aired in 2023 and was won by former Australian series runner-up Myleene Klass.

How long is I’m a Celebrity South Africa on for?

I’m A Celebrity South Africa will be on for a few weeks before finishing on Friday, April 24.

It will be broadcast on weeknights, with it taking a break on weekends, with most episodes on at 9pm.

In a change from the first series, the final of I’m a Celeb South Africa will be aired live, with the entire celebrity cast gathering in a UK studio.

Are you watching I’m A Celeb South Africa? Let us know in the comments.