I’m A Celebrity’s Danielle Harold in secret health scare that almost forced her to quit show after doctor was called in

BRAVE Danielle Harold felt “wiped out” by her jungle illness but fought on in a bid to win I’m A Celebrity.

Millions of TV viewers were completely unaware of the ­former EastEnders actress’s medical drama as none of it was shown on screen.

It was only after she became the fifth star evicted on Thursday that she shared her health-scare secret with family and friends.

Petite Danielle, who is 5ft 3in, told a pal: “I felt wiped out, so rough and unwell, but I was determined to stay in there.

“I hadn’t gone all that way for it to end like that.”

Insiders said that while campmates Grace Dent and Jamie Lynn Spears left on medical grounds, Danielle refused to do the same.

A source said: “Danielle fell ill at the start of the show and developed a really nasty infection which made her very unwell.

“It was all kept off camera and she just kept powering through. Danielle was seen by the camp doctor several times. They were very concerned but rather than throw in the towel she wanted to stay the course.

“She was really sick but you’d never have known it. She kept smiling and kept trying her best in camp. She didn’t want to have to leave the show to go to hospital.

“There were times in that first week when she really struggled.

“She didn’t want to let anyone down in camp or her family and friends. She made sure she tried to eat as much as possible, as she knew that would help her. The weather was also terrible in that first week which didn’t help. But Danielle is such a trouper and she was so brave to stick it out. She just cracked on.

“The medics kept her closely monitored and she had to see them several times to make sure the infection was kept under control.

“But she was very unwell for a few days and lost nearly a stone.”

During her 19 days in the jungle, Danielle, 31, skydived into camp and took part in several trials.

She also grew pally with Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson and This Morning host Josie Gibson.

The source added: “Danielle more than proved her mettle. Everyone rallied around her. They were in awe that she kept going.”

After her exit, Danielle immediately hinted at her health woes.

In an interview at the celebrities’ Marriott Hotel on the Gold Coast, Danielle said: “The jungle eats you alive. You have on and off days. There is no food. And my adrenaline gets me so bad.

“It is so tough. But I just smiled, even through the tough times.”

In September Danielle told The Sun on Sunday’s Fabulous magazine how she suffered from a long-term condition in her teens.

She was in and out of hospital a lot at the time of her GCSEs.

Danielle always dreamed of becoming an actress and landed a place at Jamie Oliver’s Dream School — a TV venture which the chef launched in 2011.

That year she was offered the role of Lola Pearce in EastEnders.

She left this September when her character died on screen from brain cancer. Her tear-jerking ­performance won several awards.

Danielle is now working towards her next job.

She said: “I didn’t get into acting to play one role, so I’m excited to explore other roles.”

A source added: “Danielle was massively popular in I’m A Celebrity and it was amazing for the public to see her personality.

“Offers of acting work and deals started flooding in from day one and Danielle has got a very exciting career ahead of her.”

Danielle wasn’t the only star to suffer in the jungle.

Fred Sirieix developed a foot infection after heavy rain saturated the camp.

Nick Pickard and Marvin Humes suffered skin conditions.