Craig Charles reveals sad reason he quit Coronation Street after brother’s death
craig charles has spoken about the painful reason he left Coronation Street, linking the decision to the sudden death of his brother Dean and the shock of his early exit from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. The Red Dwarf actor said the experience changed how he viewed his life and pushed him to reassess what he had achieved. He made the comments while reflecting on his return for the All Stars version filmed in South Africa.
The moment that changed everything for Craig Charles
Craig Charles, 61, first joined the jungle show in 2014, but his time in Australia ended early after Dean died suddenly aged 52, forcing him to fly home to be with his family. In the aftermath, he said he spent years unable to watch the series because it brought back feelings of loss and regret.
He said the death of his brother, and his unexpected departure as a result, changed his life. He explained that it made him ask whether he would be happy with what he had achieved if the same thing happened to him, and he said the answer was no.
That reflection, he added, left him thinking about “what ifs” for years. At first, the show felt bittersweet, and every year it returned he felt sadness over what might have been for both his brother and himself.
Why Coronation Street became part of the decision
Craig Charles said he was 50 at the time, while his brother was 52, and that he had already been in Coronation Street for ten years and felt in a rut. He played taxi driver Lloyd Mullaney on the soap from 2005 to 2015, and his time there included the programme’s live 50th-anniversary tram crash storyline.
He later announced in May 2015 that he was leaving Coronation Street to focus on Red Dwarf, Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music. The actor said the sudden loss of Dean helped sharpen that decision and made him want new adventures after years of familiar routines.
Returning when the time felt right
Now back for the All Stars version of I’m A Celebrity…, Craig Charles said the offer came at the right time. He said he feels strong and confident enough to face it again and have a laugh, even if he is less fit than he was the first time around.
He also said he still cannot stand heights or creepy crawlies, a reminder that the challenge has not become easier with time. But he added that the years of grief have eased, and that he can now watch the show again without feeling the same pain.
The return gives Craig Charles a chance to revisit a chapter that once felt unfinished. With the past still part of the story, Craig Charles is now stepping back into the jungle on his own terms.
