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C4’s Don’t Look Down in chaos as two celebrities ‘quit’

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THE Stand Up To Cancer world-first fundraising event has been thrown up in the air.
THE Stand Up To Cancer world-first fundraising event has been thrown up in the air.

TWO celebrities have quit training camp for Channel 4's Don't Look Down.

Coronation Street star Beverley Callard was forced to retire early after injurying her kidney.

Channel 4's Don't Look Down contenders eiqeeiqxziktprw
Channel 4's Don't Look Down contendersCredit: Channel 4
Beverley Callard has been forced to leave training camp with an injury
Beverley Callard has been forced to leave training camp with an injuryCredit: Rex

Meanwhile host and team leader Paddy McGuinness also left the show - because of childcare issues.

The pair had been training for their Stand Up To Cancer challenge in Austria ahead of a world-first highwire relay walk 100ft over the London Stadium.

Now the pair have returned to the UK, throwing doubt on whether the celebrities will be able to complete.

Paddy& Christine McGuinness reunite for New Year's Day family outingPaddy& Christine McGuinness reunite for New Year's Day family outing

Bev told her teammates, Beverley said: “I’m going to try not to cry… At some point I damaged my kidney and I’ve seen a doctor and I can’t wear a harness, I can’t do any sport at the moment and I’ve got to go.”

She added: “I am broken hearted, I was loving it. I don’t want to go, I so badly don’t want to go...”

Meanwhile, Paddy - who is dad to three autistic children with his estranged wife Christine - told the group: “Unfortunately today I’ve got to go home and I might not be back for at least a week.

"Co-parenting… We’ve no one at all to help us with the kids.”

He added: “With our children, they need me or Christine there or people who are in our support network. I’ll have a hell of a lot of catching up to do when I get back.

"I’m gutted because the guys will be 10 metres up in the air and it will feel like starting again but there’s just nothing I can do about it.”

Dedicated to the cause, Paddy has a training wire set up in his garden so he can continue to practice his highwire technique.

Their devastated teammates offered support, with Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt saying: “It feels really weird to lose two teammates already.

"Beverley’s been the biggest role model for us girls in the group.

"She’s 66 and she’s still made of nails with the best positive attitude, she really gives it all she’s got. To think we have to move on without her, it’s really hard.”

Christine McGuinness looks incredible as she shows off her figure in black dressChristine McGuinness looks incredible as she shows off her figure in black dress

Paddy and Beverley have been training in Austria with Anton Ferdinand, Kimberly Wyatt, Chris Hughes, David Ginola, Charley Boorman, GK Barry, Fats Timbo and Victoria Pendleton.

They've been undertaking an intense training programme alongside high-wire walker extraordinaire, Jade Kindar-Martin.

Each member of the Don’t Look Down team has been touched by cancer in some way and is determined to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.

As part of their emotional journey on the show, they share personal stories about how the devastating disease has impacted and reshaped their lives.

In Tuesday's episode, the team of terrified celebrities struggled to hold it together as the challenge of learning to highwire walk took its toll both physically and mentally.

Tonight they are taking on the Schlegeis Dam, which stands at over 400ft.

Don’t Look Down for SU2C continues on Channel 4 on Thursday, November 2, at 9pm. Catch up online with the series so far.

Paddy McGuinness shares his kids with co-parent Christine
Paddy McGuinness shares his kids with co-parent ChristineCredit: instagram

Amanda Devlin

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