The 69-year-old soap legend revealed that recent test results showed one of her lymph nodes had returned “low numbers” for aggressiveness — meaning she can now begin radiotherapy sooner than expected.

Speaking in an emotional Instagram video, Beverley said: “I’ve got absolutely great news. One of the lymph nodes that they’d sent over for testing to see how aggressive the cancer would be and it’s on low numbers which is really good.

“That means I can begin the radiotherapy very soon, which I’m pleased about. So the next step is coming ahead. Thank you for all your messages, I’m sending loads of love. I am popping champagne! Wahey!”

The actress later admitted she “couldn’t begin to explain the relief” as she celebrated the update with husband Jon, who appeared beside her in the clip and emotionally declared: “What a f***ing journey!”

Beverley was flooded with support from celebrity friends after posting the update online, with Denise Welch writing: “So proud of you Beverley,” while comedian Seann Walsh commented: “Oh my God, I’m so happy Bev.”

The heartbreaking health battle came months after Beverley was forced to quit I’m A … South Africa on medical grounds following what she described as a “funny turn” during filming in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

At the time, the actress had no idea she was already battling early-stage breast cancer.

Looking back on the moment, Beverley revealed she became emotional after rewatching her exit from the ITV show. She explained that she briefly lost consciousness inside the Bush Telegraph before medics stepped in.

“I just watched my exit on I’m A Celeb and it made me cry all over again,” she said. “Of course, I didn’t know then that I had cancer but I just knew that it was the last couple of days there that I hadn’t felt very well.”

She continued: “What happened was, I went into the Bush Telegraph and apparently, I lost consciousness for a little while. I just wasn’t feeling myself.”

Despite desperately wanting to stay, Beverley said medical staff insisted she leave camp immediately.

“And I said, ‘don’t say that, don’t send me home, I’ll be fine.’ I wanted to succeed and make it through to the end but that was the start of everything,” she admitted emotionally. “It’s made me really emotional but I will beat this. I will beat it.”

Her departure left fellow campmates devastated, with Adam Thomas breaking down in tears while Scarlett Moffatt admitted: “The camp won’t be the same without her.”

Even after her difficult exit, Beverley later described the experience as “wonderful” and said returning to the jungle had given her some of the happiest moments of her life.