I’m A Celebrity ‘is thrown into chaos after a soap star is forced to pull out just DAYS before filming kicks off’
I’m a celebrity Get me out of here! has reportedly been thrown into chaos after Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw following his knee operation.
Sources claim the Coronation Street star has had to withdraw from the show after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his ACL ligament last week.
It comes just days before the new series of I’m A Celebrity kicks off on November 19, starring Frankie Dettori, Jamie Lynn Spears and Sam Thompson.
It is thought it could take up to a year for Alan to recover, with a Corrie spokesperson confirming he will take a break from the soap following his operation.
A source said The mirror: ‘It’s a big blow, but he can’t possibly go to Australia – his surgeon would have a fit.
No trip Down Under! I’m a celebrity Get me out of here! has reportedly been thrown into chaos after Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw following his knee operation
‘Alan needs to make a full recovery and then maybe he can compete next year. It’s a huge shame because everyone was really looking forward to having him on the show, but these things happen.”
A representative for I’m A Celebrity declined to comment when contacted by
On Thursday, Alan revealed it would take him a year to recover from his surgery, taking to Instagram to share a photo from his hospital bed.
In the photo, Alan appeared to be in good spirits, giving a thumbs up as he lay back in bed and telling how the operation went “really well” in an accompanying caption.
The surgery reconstructs the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by removing the torn ligament and replacing it with a tendon from another part of the leg.
Alan, best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap, said it could take up to 12 months for him to recover during his rehabilitation.
He wrote: ‘ACL reconstruction surgery Well, on Friday I had ACL reconstruction surgery.
‘I was told the operation went very well. I know I have a long rehabilitation of 9-12 months ahead of me, but I am sure I will get there with the support of family and friends.
‘Thank you to the wonderful! Staff at Oaklands xx ..and also thanks to my own nurse Ratched @missdrewmerry93 Any rehab tips or advice??’
Speculation: It comes just days before the new series of I’m A Celebrity kicks off on November 19 (presenters Ant and Dec are pictured in the show’s trailer)
On the mend: On Thursday, Alan revealed it would take him up to a year to recover from his surgery, as he took to Instagram to share a photo from his hospital bed
Career: Alan is best known for playing Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap and has seen his long-lost mother return in recent months
Shock: Tyrone was stunned to learn that his mother Cassie (Claire Sweeney) was alive after years of believing her dead from a drug overdose
A Coronation Street spokeswoman said Tyrone will remain on screen for the rest of the year but will then take a break while actor Alan recovers.
They told MailOnline: ‘Alan will be on screen over the coming weeks as we film two months ahead, and then he will take a short break while he recovers.’
His famous friends and co-stars quickly took to the comments section to wish him a speedy recovery.
His co-star Claire Sweeney, who plays his on-screen mum, said: ‘This is great news, glad it was a success xxxx’
Catherine Tyldesley wrote: ‘Get well soon love!’, while Samia Longchambon added: ‘Rest. Upwards. Just shout if you need some grapes.’
While Ryan Thomas, who played Jason Grimshaw in Corrie, simply commented on a red love heart emoji.
It comes after Alan’s Coronation Street character Tyrone faced drama in recent months when his long-term mother made an appearance.
Tyrone was stunned to learn that his mother was alive after years of believing her dead from a drug overdose, and furiously confronted his grandmother Evelyn (Maureen Lipman) for lying about her existence.
Cassie returned to Weatherfield determined to get clean so she could reconnect with her son, leading Tyrone and Evelyn to believe that she had overcome her drug addiction.
Cassie insisted she was clean and did her best to isolate Tyrone from Evelyn, insisting she come stay with him, but it was later revealed that she was hiding a box of pregabalin for nerve pain, which she claimed she had given up.
However, fans have complained that Claire Sweeney was wrongly cast as Cassie when she first appeared on the show.