Craig Charles is returning to a popular ITV show after he was forced to make a tragic early exit(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street star Craig Charles is preparing for a second stint in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! jungle, following a heartbreaking exit nearly ten years ago.

The 61-year-old actor, who first graced the popular ITV show in 2014, was forced to leave after just four days due to the tragic news that his brother Dean had passed away from a heart attack.

Now, he’s set to return for the All Stars edition, which is currently being filmed in South Africa. This marks a significant moment for the show, as it’s reportedly the first time a former contestant who had to leave under such personal circumstances has been invited back.

A TV insider told the Mirror: “So many viewers were willing for Craig to win when he appeared on the show the first time and he stood a good chance of being crowned King of the Jungle.”

Craig Charles’ career has taken him from the Corrie cobbles to outer space and sold-out DJ sets(Image: ITV)
They continued: “But he was robbed of the experience by the family tragedy, although his campmates and the production team all understood why he wanted to leave and head home to be with his loved ones.

“So ITV has given him another go, and it’s a move which has never been done on the show before – bringing someone back who had to leave due to such circumstances.”

Charles first shot to fame as Dave Lister in the iconic BBC sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, a role that earned him widespread acclaim.

He subsequently portrayed cabbie Lloyd Mullaney on Coronation Street from 2005 to 2015, establishing himself as a recognisable figure amongst soap enthusiasts.

Currently, he presents a programme on BBC Radio 6 Music, where a replacement host has stepped in whilst he films in South Africa.

This All-Stars version promises to deliver reunions on multiple levels. Gemma Collins, who also departed suddenly in 2014, is making her comeback, creating the perfect scenario for recognisable personalities and unresolved matters to play out on television.

Ant and Dec return as presenters, steering audiences through the jungle trials and camp antics as usual.

The series, scheduled to broadcast later this year, will provide viewers with an opportunity to witness these former participants confront the obstacles they were forced to abandon years ago, with the additional intensity of a celebrity-packed All Stars lineup.

An ITV spokesperson commented: “Any names suggested for I’m A Celebrity South Africa are speculation,” maintaining secrecy around the official cast for now, though industry sources confirm that the returning celebrities are already creating considerable excitement.