Beverley

Coronation Street icon Beverley Callard, who played Liz McDonald on the ITV soap for 30 years, has admitted she is “trying to be strong” after receiving a cancer update

Beverley Callard has admitted she is “trying to be strong” after receiving a cancer update. The actress, 69, who is best known for having starred as Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald on Coronation Street, recently located to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan so she could star in the BBC soap Fair City.

But just before filming her first scenes, the star, who can currently be seen competing on the pre-recorded I’m A Celebrity…South Africa series, received a call informing her that she had been diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer and underwent her first bout of surgery shortly afterwards.

Beverley underwent the initial operation in March and expected to receive her results, which will indicate whether she is cancer-free or not, around four weeks later, but received one setback at the beginning of April when she heard that there was a “backlog” in the system. On Tuesday evening, Beverley took to Instagram once again to update her followers once again on the situation.

READ MORE: Corrie legend Beverley Callard tearfully admits she’s ‘in denial’ amid cancer diagnosisREAD MORE: I’m A Celebrity’s Bev Callard slams ‘crazy’ Coronation Street decision

Beginning with a sigh, she said: “Oh well, I’ve been painting all day again and I’ve nearly finished it, which is amazing. God, I’ve put some hours in that room, but I really want it finished for when Jon gets back. As you know, I’m waiting for my results, which has made me paint for England, well, for Ireland!

“Anyway, I got a text just a couple of hours ago. It says that my consultant is away at the moment, but there is someone else who I have seen before, another consultant, who wants to discuss my results on Thursday at 12 o’clock, so I’ve got a consultation then. I don’t know what that means. So I’m sort of like, ‘Okay… I just thought that the nurse was going to ring.’

“I spoke to one of the cancer nurses last week, she was great, and she said they would ring me as soon as they know anything. So I’m thinking, ‘Well, why have they not rung me then?

“Or am I mistaken? I don’t know but I will know more on Thursday at 12 o’clock so I will be glad when Jon is home. I wasn’t going to tell him but [my daughter] Rebecca said to tell him, so I have just told him. There we are. I just wondered if this has happened to anyone else. Lots of love everyone – I’m being strong.”

Beverley, who is also known for starring in the classic sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps alongside Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey and Will Mellor, wrote in the caption: “Had a bit of a weird update and not sure how to feel about it…trying to be brave and strong.”

The soap icon was immediately supported by fans following the update, with one writing in the comments section: “I got called in Monday, 2 hour drive, for follow up results from my scan after lung surgery from recurrance after 2yrs (not breast cancer) I had health anxiety for 2 weeks waiting for the appointment day thinking it must be bad or oncologist would just phone.

“Was in office 5 mins, she said all clear, we’ll do another scan September. It’s not always bad but i think they sometimes forget the anxiety of the wait. Sending love,” (sic), whilst another said: “Stay positive Bev. Be as strong as you were in the jungle darling, You’ve got this, beautiful lady!”

Trying to reassure her, a third wrote: “This is the phone call the nurse promised. The dr has to speak to you because, whatever the outcome, there will be a treatment plan which they need to go through with you. Try not to worry – it doesn’t mean it’s bad news xxx”

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.

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EXCLUSIVE: I’m A Celebrity… South Africa fans were left fuming when former professional boxer David Haye pushed for Corrie icon Beverley Callard to be sent to Savannah Scrub

Beverley Callard has opened up about her ongoing “feud” with I’m A Celebrity campmate David Haye.

Fans were left gobsmacked when the former professional boxer, 45, pushed for the Coronation Street legend, 69, to be sent to Savannah Scrub in the first episode of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa.

Savannah Scrub was the more basic of the two camps and ITV viewers were not impressed by his behaviour.

However, Beverley ended up having the last laugh as David’s shock move helped her grow a closer bond with her fellow Savannah Scrub campmates Gemma Collins, Seann Walsh and Adam Thomas.

Speaking on behalf of WhichBingo, Beverley explained: “We had a great mix of people aside from one.

“When David sent me to Savannah Scrub he ended up doing me a favour but I really minded at first because we didn’t know each other and he judged me.

“He didn’t give a thought to anything apart from winning but the four of us in Savannah Scrub had great camaraderie which I enjoyed.”

The actress continued: “I also really resented when he said ‘she’s got to prove herself’.

“I don’t have to prove myself to him, that just was so smug and I don’t care what he thinks of me.

“I do not want to impress him and I think it was ageist, I thought it was sexist and at that time I thought he had no consideration for anybody else’s feelings whatsoever.

“He was a meanie and all he wanted to do was win and he didn’t seem to have any endearing qualities to me whatsoever.”

I’m A Celebrity… South Africa was filmed back in September last year and now watching back the series, Beverley feels she let off David too lightly when the two camps eventually reunited after days apart.

She said: “I actually thought I was too easy on him. I did say a lot more than that, it was edited out, but I think I was too easy on him when we met again.

“I was a fan of his. My dad used to box for the army, my son has boxed and there were so many questions I wanted to ask him. I was thrown completely.

As for whether the feud is truly behind them seven months later, Beverley stated: “It’s not over, let me say that.”

A representative for David Haye has been approached for a comment.

I’m A Celebrity… South Africa airs Monday to Friday on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm

Beverley Callard has addressed the apparent confusion that some fans have had ahead of her appearance on I’m A Celebrity…South Africa amid her breast cancer battle

Beverley Callard has addressed the apparent confusion that some fans have had ahead of her appearance on I’m A Celebrity…South Africa. The actress, 69, who is best known for having starred as Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald on Coronation Street, revealed earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer and underwent her first bout of surgery just over a month ago.

The soap star, who initially appeared on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020, will be seen again on-screen from Easter Monday, where she joins a whole host of other former campmates from the ITV survival series as they battle it out to become the next Jungle Legend.

She will be seen facing challenges alongside the likes of Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2016, and TOWIE legend Gemma Collins, who infamously quit the show after just three days in 2014, but some fans have been left wondering how this is possible when she is going through major health issues.

READ MORE: Beverley Callard suffers cancer setback – ‘I cannot paint a smile on my face again’READ MORE: ‘I starred in I’m A Celeb All Stars and couldn’t believe trials were even legal’

The former Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps star has been open and honest about her health woes since the start, and took to Instagram late on Sunday night to remind fans that the show is pre-recorded, and doesn’t go out live like the main series.

She said: “Well, I’ve just got to, first of all, I’ve got to say Happy Easter – even though it’s a bit late – to everybody. Not a bad day today, but I didn’t eat chocolate because I just didn’t fancy it. And also, I want to remind everyone that tomorrow at 9pm, Easter Monday, I’m A Celebrity…South Africa begins.

“And I know everybody thinks I’m suddenly going away to South Africa. I’m not. We did film it a little while ago. So please watch it because it’s frightening, wonderful, horrifying, funny – it was terrifying, exhilarating, everything. But believe me, it’s great television, honestly, so I hope you enjoy it.”

The update comes after Beverley, who underwent her first operation at the beginning of March and was due to receive her results at the start of April, revealed she had received some by bad news just before the onset of the long Easter weekend.

Speaking to her followers again, she heartbreakingly admitted she couldn’t pretend any longer that everything was all right as she headed to a photoshoot to promote her new role on Irish soap Fair City.

She said: “Well, I had to do a photoshoot yesterday and on the way there – it was for a magazine about Fair City – and on the way there, Jon [my husband] was driving, and I was in the passenger seat. My phone rang, and it said the caller ID. Usually, it’s the hospital or one of the consultants from the hospital and I thought ‘Okay, this is it, my results.’ It was one of the amazing cancer care nurses from Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, they are fantastic.

“She wanted to know how I was doing. I told her that I’ve got quite a lot of soreness, which I’ve not had for ages but it came on a few days ago. She said I could be overdoing things, hopefully I’m not, I’ve had a lazy day today. But then she said ‘No results yet because there is a backlog,’ so hopefully I will get them next week.

“You know when your heart is in your mouth? You think ‘This is it. It’s coming now, any minute,’ and then, no, nothing. Obviously, we were still moving in the car, and I just thought ‘I can’t do this now, I cannot paint a smile on my face again.’

At the beginning of March, Beverley told fans that she had around four weeks of waiting to find out if the operation had been a success, and at the time, seemed optimistic about the situation.

She said: “So, the next stage, is, in about four weeks, we will find out if she managed to get all the cancer out and we’ll also get the results of whether it was in the lymph nodes or not.

“If I’m cancer-free, then, a few weeks after that, I will begin radiotherapy. If I’m not cancer-free, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. But I have a feeling I will be. I don’t why I have that feeling but I just have.”

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.

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