Struggling with his health, Dr. Bob skips out on the jungle trial.
For the first time in two decades, the Land of Legends witnessed an I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! episode without the legendary Dr. Bob. The absence was announced on the 14th day of the current season, airing on RTL+ and RTL. Robert "Bob" McCarron, the British-Australian medical professional, was unwell and could not attend the show. Dr. Bob has been an integral part of the iconic series since its debut in 2004.
"He's quite under the weather," presenter Sonja Zietlow revealed to the stunned contestants, Elena Miras and Georgina Fleur, during the May-filmed episode.
Stepping in for the Legendary Medic
According to the broadcast report, special effects artist and emergency medical technician Jan Köppen stepped in for Dr. Bob. Köppen himself had to miss the start of the unusual South African-shot series due to his own health concerns, with Sonja Zietlow hosting the show solo.
However, this was not a one-time circumstance. Köppen was expected to return for day 15 to brief the contestants on the safety measures ahead.
The contestant lineup for the day remained unclear, with Elena Miras, Georgina Fleur, Kader Loth, Danni Büchner, Sarah Knappik, Mola Adebisi, Gigi Birofio, and Eric Stehfest still in the game.
After saying goodbye to Thorsten Legat, Giulia Siegel, Winfried Glatzeder, Hanka Rackwitz, and David Ortega, the unique "I'm a Celebrity... Showdown of the Jungle Legends" season continues, with the latest episode available on RTL+, and the following day's broadcast on RTL linear TV.
"Who will stand in for Dr. Bob during the upcoming task?" one of the contestants might ponder, intrigued by the deviation from the usual procedure.
"That would be Jan Köppen," Sonja Zietlow could respond, answering the question with reassurance, "an experienced special effects artist and emergency medical technician."
Explore further:
[1] As a precaution, the news outlets mention Richard Madeley, a British celebrity who participated in the 2024 edition of the show but had to leave due to his health. However, the sources do not specify a replacement for Dr. Bob in this particular situation.
[3] The enrichment data indicates that while Richard Madeley did leave the show due to illness, it appears that he was the only individual with health concerns. No replacement for Dr. Bob is mentioned in the referenced sources.
