Comedian and TV presenter Noel Fielding confessed to a terrifying moment while filming his AppleTV show The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.
Speaking to the Metro, the 51-year-old, who also served as an executive producer on the series, revealed that the most nerve-wracking scene involved his character Dirk Turpin being hanged.
Despite knowing safety measures were in place, he admitted: “That was my most hairy moment, when I had a rope around my neck and like a trapdoor system is going to drop and I was going to be hanged and they assured me I was on a wire but you know, the mental weirdness of that, the feeling.”
He added: “You’re just like, “Oh god, I hope this rope isn’t an inch too short….you’ve got your hands behind your back, you’ve got a rope around your neck and the floor’s going to give. It’s quite scary. So now I know what it will be like to be hanged. But luckily I was saved at the last minute”
These comments, made alongside co-star Hugh Bonneville, 61, came before the show was cancelled by AppleTV following Fielding’s departure from production. According to The Times, the show’s cancellation was due to Fielding’s health issues.
A source told the publication: “Noel has said that he can’t film anymore and so there was no choice but to stop.”
They mentioned that although Noel’s wellbeing was of prime concern and the choice to leave wasn’t made lightly, his departure hasn’t been entirely well-received. The Sun revealed that more than 100 cast and crew might take legal action against the producers due to the abrupt cancellation of the show mid-production, reports Wales Online.
A source stated: “People have been very concerned about Noel’s wellbeing and given him time to recover but there are also significant repercussions.”
Following the series’ cancellation, speculation abounds regarding the specifics of Noel’s health issues and reasons he suddenly left the Mighty Boosh star’s AppleTV project.
In light of this, the representative for the Great British Bake Off co-host responded: “This is a private and confidential matter regarding our client’s health. We are saddened by the decision to cease production but we cannot make any further comment on this matter.”
Public anticipation grows for further details on how Noel’s exit from his AppleTV show will unfold, with eyes now turning to see if it will affect his role on Bake Off.
An insider disclosed to the Daily Mail that timing is critical as producers require certainty about who will host Bake Off, adding: “All those involved understand this is a health matter, but contingencies have to be put in place.”
Noel’s agent countered the recent speculation with a statement to The Standard: “There has been absolutely no discussion about Noel stepping down from Bake Off. We have been in contact with Channel 4 and Love Productions throughout all the speculation and his ‘stepping down’ has never been part of that dialogue. We can confirm he will be returning to co-host the next series of Bake Off.”
Noel Fielding, who has graced the Great British Bake Off as host since its transition to Channel 4 in 2017, will continue presenting the show, having worked alongside Matt Lucas and the latest addition, TV legend Alison Hammond in 2023.