I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s Beverley Callard: Four husbands; why she left Coronation Street; ongoing cancer battle
From the cobbles to the jungle...Beverley Callard headed back into the jungle for I’m A Celebrity South Africa earlier this month. And, although many will know her as Liz McDonald from Coronation Street, do they really know the woman behind the Rovers Return landlady?
Here’s a hint, if you didn’t love her before, you definitely do now!
As well as Bev, fans can expect famous faces such as Olympian Sir Mo Farah, plus a King and a Queen of the Jungle, Harry Redknapp and Scarlett Moffatt, to be lighting up our screens over the show’s three-week run.
But, what do we know about the soap legend that is Bev, and when was she first on I’m A Celebrity? Here’s everything about her, from her four husbands to her recent cancer battle.
How old is Beverley Callard? What has she been in?
Beverley Callard was born in Morley, West Riding of Yorkshire on March 28, 1957. She is 68 years old.
The actress is best known for playing Liz McDonald on the ITV soap, making her debut way back in 1989. She ended up leaving in 2020 though and hasn’t been seen since.
As well as Corrie, Beverley has appeared on Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps from 2001 to 2003 playing Flo Henshaw.
Her other TV credits include The Bill, Casualty, Mandy and Meet the Richardsons. What’s more, on-and-off from 2010 to 2021, Bev was also a Loose Women panelist.
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Why did Beverley Callard quit Coronation Street?
In 2020, Bev sensationally announced her departure from Coronation Street after 30 years playing Liz McDonald.
However, two years later, her agent, author Melanie Blake, revealed that it was the show’s treatment of Liz that saw Beverley walk away.
Speaking to DigitalSpy, Melanie said: “She basically came to me and said: ‘I’m done.’ I was like: ‘We’ll wait for another producer and we’ll get great stories’. She said: ‘No, I’m done. I want out.’
As for why she wanted to leave, Melanie shared: “Because her storylines were not believable to her anymore and she felt no one was bothered about her character’s history arc, to make it realistic for her to play.
“She actually said: ‘I don’t want to turn up to do stuff that I don’t even believe in. The audience deserves better for Liz.’ And she was right – they let the character down and the audience down with her, and that’s how they lost her.”
What is Beverley Callard’s net worth?
With a 44-year career in the business, Beverly is reported to be worth a huge £1 million. However, back in 2023, she faced with a difficult time. Her and husband Jon McEwan’s personal company, JMBJ Ltd, went bust.
The company reportedly stacked up £215,000 in debt. They owed money to the likes of trade creditors and the taxman. Beverley’s company went into liquidation in April 2023 as it couldn’t pay back all of the debt that was owed.
It came after Beverley was said to have been paid £125,000 for her appearance on I’m A Celebrity back in 2020.
Sadly, Beverley struggled financially back in 2012 as well, as she herself became bankrupt. Unfortunately, Beverley had come into difficulties after her and her husband’s pub business struggled to stay afloat.
She also had to pay medical bills as a result of her stay at a psychiatric ward in 2009, stemming from her struggle with depression.
Speaking to The Sun about this experience, Beverley revealed: “It has been hell keeping everything secret. Since the bankruptcy became public people think I’m a showbiz diva who frittered her cash away on expensive dinners and fancy clothes. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I’ve worked non-stop since I was 16 and somehow it all seemed it had been for nothing. We’d come to the end of the road. We had no money. I felt embarrassed and exhausted.”
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Beverley Callard’s new role on Irish show Fair City
In January, Beverley joined the cast of Irish soap, Fair City, that airs on the channel RTÉ. She plays the role of Lily who is the long-lost mother of character Gwen.
Beverley’s new character of Lily was described as “quirky, unpredictable and sharp as a tack” with “just enough edge to keep Carrigstown on its toes”.
Speaking about Lily’s arrival into the fictional world of Carrigstown, Fair City Executive Producer Brigie de Courcy said on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland that “Lily’s character had been two years in the planning”.
Where does Beverley Callard live?
Bev moved to Ireland for the role in the soap. She’s currently living in Dublin, having moved from Norfolk.
Who was Beverley Callard married to?
Away from the TV sets, Beverley had been married three times before tying the knot with her current husband, Jon McEwan.
Her first husband was Paul Atkinson, who she married in 1974 before splitting in 1977. The pair share a daughter Rebecca Callard.
Talking about the reason for their split, she told the Mirror: “We were too young.” She doesn’t regret the marriage as she has her “beautiful” daughter Rebecca.
After Paul, she tied the knot in 1980 with her second husband, teacher David Sowden. Eight years later they divorced with Bev admitting their “marriage lacked spark.” She gushed over David calling him “lovely” but said they “were a mismatch”.
Her third husband was Steve Callard and the pair married in 1989 before splitting 12 years later. They also share a son called Joshua.
“Steve is Josh’s dad, so again I could never regret that marriage. But in the end he made me incredibly unhappy, although maybe I made him unhappy, too,” Bev said about Steve.
Who is Beverley Callard’s husband?
Currently, Beverley is loved-up with recording studio owner Jon McEwan after being set up on a blind date with him.
“When I saw Jon with his shaved head and gold tooth I wasn’t impressed. But within minutes we were chatting away. We went on to sit together at dinner and we got on like a house on fire,” she told The Mirror.
Going from strength to strength, Jon popped the question in Spain in May 2010. Five months later they got married at Hazlewood Castle Hotel, West Yorkshire.
And during her stint on I’m A Celebrity in 2020, Bev made a shock saucy confession about her beau. She told her fellow contestants: “Jon’s very handsome… He is a mega shag and he dances for me in the kitchen every morning and makes me laugh my socks off.”
When was Beverley Callard first on I’m A Celebrity?
Beverley previously appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, in which it took place in a Welsh castle.
On the series, Beverley appeared alongside the likes of Jordan North, Shane Richie and eventual winner Giovanna Fletcher. As for Bev, she ended up coming in 10th place.
Speaking about how the show changed her, Beverley said recently: “It gave me confidence. I do tend to suffer from low self-esteem and without sounding big-headed, because people kept telling me they loved me and how down to earth I was, it gave me confidence and it was lovely to be with such a wonderful group of people.”
Why has Beverley Callard been in hospital? Does she still have cancer?
In February this year, Beverley announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Appearing on Patrick Kielty’s Late Late Show on she explained she learned about her diagnosis just minutes before stepping onto the set of Irish soap Fair City.
Beverley revealed she was told she needed to return to the UK only 15 to 20 minutes before filming her very first scenes as new character Lily.
Despite the timing, she carried on filming, later confirming the cancer had thankfully been caught early. She has since undergone surgery to remove her lymph nodes to ensure the cancer had not spread.
And in March, while at at Ant and Dec’s launch event at London’s Ham Yard Hotel last, she defiantly declared: “[Bleep] cancer!”
She added: “We go from one extreme to another in my job. I’m feeling more nervous now we’re here, but I’m going to be very brave.”
‘We did film it a little while ago’
The night before the launch show, Bev also took to social media to clear up confusion over her I’m A Celebrity appearance. The timing comes just two months after she shared her diagnosis, leading to speculation from fans about her health. However, the series was filmed last year, meaning Beverley isn’t currently travelling or taking part while undergoing treatment.
Taking to Instagram on the night before the launch show, Beverley shared a health update while reminding fans the series is not live.
“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,” she said.
“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,” she added.
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How is Beverley Callard getting on in the I’m A Celebrity jungle?
Things didn’t start too well for soap legend Bev, as she had a row with David Haye and was sent to Savannah Scrub. There, she roughed it alongside Adam Thomas, Seann Walsh and Gemma Collins.
April 9 saw Bev head into Main Camp. And she had an axe to grind with David for casting her out of the main group of stars on day one. Now, she’s living in Rhino Camp, with her leader Jimmy Bullard.
With her quick wit, one-line comebacks and Bushtucker Trial prowess, consensus online is leading to our Bev winning that Legend status at the live grand final on April 24.
Eliminations start imminently, Ant and Dec revealed in a flash forward click on April 14, but surely Bev is a shoo-in for that London final.
Read more: Adam Thomas snubbed by ITV after ‘explosive’ unaired row with I’m A Celebrity co-star
