Noel Fielding feared he might die on Dick Turpin series before mystery illness sparked show axe
Comedian and TV presenter Noel Fielding admitted he feared he was going to die during one scary stunt whilst filming his AppleTV show The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.
Speaking to the Metro, the 51-year-old, who was also an executive producer on the series, said the hairiest was moment was when they had to film a scene in which his character Dirk Turpin was hanged.
Noel said that whilst he knew there were safety systems in place, his mind remained uncertain and not fully convinced he would definitely make it through it.
He explained: "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.
"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.”
Noel’s comments, made alongside 61-year-old co-star Hugh Bonneville, came months before the show was axed from AppleTV after he disappeared from production.
The reason, reports The Times, for the show’s axing is due to Noel’s health. A source told the publication: “Noel has said that he can't film anymore and so there was no choice but to stop.”
They added that, whilst there was utmost concern for Noel’s wellbeing and an understanding the decision was not taken lightly, that his decision had not been received entirely positively. The Sun reported that over 100 cast and crew members are considering taking legal action against the makers of the show. The reason behind this is reportedly because the show was cancelled mid-production.
The source explained: “People have been very concerned about Noel's wellbeing and given him time to recover but there are also significant repercussions.”
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Following the show’s cancellation there has been speculation over the nature of Noel’s ill-health and what made the star of the Mighty Boosh leave so unexpectedly.
In response, a spokesperson for the Great British Bake Off co-host said: “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.”
Whilst the public awaits further updates on the ramifications of Noel’s departure from his AppleTV hit, attention now turns to whether this will impact Noel’s presence on Bake Off.
An insider told the Daily Mail that time was “of the essence because bosses need a degree of certainty about who will be fronting Bake Off”. They added: “All those involved understand this is a health matter, but contingencies have to be put in place.”
In response, Noel's agent told 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 has been hosting the Great British Bake Off since 2017, when the show moved from the BBC to Channel 4. He has since hosted alongside fellow comedian Matt Lucas and TV icon Alison Hammond who joined the show in 2023.
