Craig Charles leaves I'm a Celebrity due to brother's death.

[metalkatt.livejournal.com]

Seems his brother Dean (not the glitterboy; that was Emile) has passed suddenly, and Craig has left the show (duh) to head home.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/20/craig-charles-brother-death-quits-im-a-celebrity_n_6189962.html

Comments

[derien.livejournal.com]

Oh, ow, that's too bad. :(

[rosecathy1.livejournal.com]

I think Robert said it best, really. @bobbyllew: Terribly sad news to wake up to. Craig was being such a cool hero in the jungle then he get’s this news.

*hugs Craig* :(

(From last night, being a cool hero [WARNING: Screaming, swearing, critters] http://youtu.be/Zh4r4Mu-OcY)

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

Such an awful thing to happen while he was away from home. It must have been terrible to find out that way, especially when he's already physically, emotionally and mentally drained and missing his family. Hope they get him home asap. He's going to need a lot of support I think.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

That is an awful thing; I saw it on Twitter and felt really horrible for him.

Now, from a coldly calculating position - and proving once again that journalists and PR people are not quite like anyone else in the brain - Craig gets the advantages of being on the show, without having to go through a lengthy stay or vote, and being in the public eye during a sympathetic tragedy in his life. Everybody has lost a family member. They will empathize and his standing with the public will be positive. I say this because if the tabloids really DO like to go on the attack with him, they can't do it now - which is something I saw some fans were worried about happening because he was on the show.

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

I think if they decide they want to target him, then the most he'll get is maybe a couple of weeks grace tops. The tabloids aren't known for their decency. With any luck they'll struggle to come up with anything too bad though - the general public consensus seems to be that Craig came across very well, particularly after last night's challenge. The major factor they might play up is that his addiction issues in the past have been triggered by bereavement - they'll be watching him like a hawk for any sign that this has sent him into a tailspin. Bastards.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

My Mum, who admittedly may be a little biased as she likes him in "Corrie" anyway, was dismayed by this as she thinks he came across as one of "the most normal, down-to-earth people there". She's watched every series of "I'm A Celeb" so is in a good position to judge.

Tweets from Robert. He's so right about the "charm and sparkle". https://twitter.com/bobbyllew/status/535531107723542528
https://twitter.com/bobbyllew/status/535532056642863104

[rosecathy1.livejournal.com]

I hope he'll be inspired to take better care of himself rather than go off the rails. :( Granted, things are different now, with his kids being older and social media-savvy and his wife having gone through it once — even if he wanted to succumb to the addiction again, it would be harder for him to do so.

I'm so worried because his late brother is said to have been fit and healthy. Live to be at least 101, please, Craig. That goes for the rest of the cast as well.

[rosecathy1.livejournal.com]

I got the impression that while most of the other contestants were there for the usual reasons (greater fame, pressure from others, and/or...?), Craig signed up in large part because of the adventure. I'm sure there were other reasons, but his overall attitude came across as "I get to do cool stuff yay."

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Um, there are some pictures here of poor Craig saying his goodbyes. I want to hug him so badly. I stress that they don't show him actually being told about his brother and according to someone on Twitter the programme doesn't either. I should fucking hope not. :/

http://t.co/mqzlslkKto

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I'm sure the money helped, but at heart he's still adventurous and hungry for new experiences, which is probably part of what keeps him looking so relatively youthful. :)

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

I know it's dumb because the situation was pretty damn grim, but I was still kind of jealous when he was hugging her.

[rosecathy1.livejournal.com]

Hee. You and me both, babe. (You know how I felt about Lloyd tackling Andrea...)

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

If he's at the next DJ I may try to get up the nerve to ask for a hug. Only because I've read other fans saying he's quite happy to do so. :)

[metalkatt.livejournal.com]

She can't force him not to relapse. It doesn't work like that. But, she can be there to offer love and support, and point out options other than taking that step to relapse.

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

I was on holiday when this news came in but I heard about it through Facebook. So sad, and my thoughts go out to both Craig and his whole family. Losing a sibling at such a young age, so unexpectedly must be just gutting.