Noel Fielding has been seen in public for the first time since he mysteriously quit filming for his Apple TV show.
The Great British Bake Off star, 51, sparked concerns for his health after he failed to show up for filming the second season of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.
The star spent weeks hiding away at his holiday home in the South of France but this weekend was spotted back in North London.
Noel appeared in good spirits laughing and chatting away as he walked down the street with his wife Liliana Bird and a close friend.
It is the sighting of the comedian back in the UK after his publicists announced he would not be returning to film after the Christmas break due to an unknown ‘health reason’.
Over the Christmas break, Noel is believed to have flown out to his rural villa, which is around a 30 minute drive from Nice, to spend the festive period with his partner and their two young daughters
Yet after New Years he did not fly back to his home in London, with his co-stars and producers being left in the lurch.
Upon returning to film in January cast and crew members were told the production was being axed due to ‘the illness of a key cast member’.
Noel Fielding has been seen in public for the first time since he mysteriously quit filming for his Apple TV show
He looked completely refreshed, laughing and enjoying time with his wife, Lliana, and a friend
Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding (back row) with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith on episode 3 of series 15 of The Great British Bake Off
And although sources have claimed the production had ‘no choice but to stop’ and many were said to be ‘concerned about Noel’s wellbeing’, some staff ‘are furious’.
The upset has meant that now more than 100 people who were working on the show are reportedly considering a class action lawsuit against the makers of the Apple TV+ comedy.
A TV insider told The Sun at the time: ‘Axing a show halfway through production is virtually unheard of – plus there’s a mystery over just what has happened. It’s left bosses of other shows he is on feeling extremely nervous.’
Hiding away from the furore, Noel stayed in his home close to Tourrettes-sur-Loup – a small commune in the Alpes-Maritimes province which stretches from the hills down to the Côte d’Azur .
It is a quiet, rural town, surrounded by rolling hills, tall green trees and a large valley, offering ultimate privacy for a star who wants to recover in peace away from the spotlight.
In summer, the pretty hilltop village, which has been standing since the 16th century, is packed with tourists and cyclists touring to see the panoramic views of the ocean.
In January, however, while the temperature remains mild, it is mainly locals walking around the town’s small square.
There are no large supermarkets around, only small fruit sellers and bakeries, with a weekly farmers market held every Wednesday.
This marks his first public outing since stepping back from filming Apple TV’s Dick Turpin over a month ago due to an undisclosed illness
The trio were seen out and about in North London, looking happy and refreshed
Despite this, there are dozens of restaurants, including a Michellin star bistro called Clovis where the tasting menu and the five glass wine pairing costs €154.
Houses in the area sell between £1million and £4million, all offering stunning views of the ocean and sprawling gardens with large pools to cool off in summer.
Noel’s decision to stop filming for the latest Dick Turpin series has left Bake Off stars worried that he could also be considering stepping down from the Channel 4 show.
‘Crisis talks’ were reportedly held with the bosses of the show to discuss contingency plans but today Fielding’s agents hit back and confirmed he would still be presenting series 16, which begins filming in April.
‘We can confirm he will be returning to co-host the next series of Bake Off,’ the star’ agent said last night.
‘There has been absolutely no discussion about Noel stepping down.
‘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.’
Meanwhile Love Productions, the makers of the Bake Off, expressed concern for Noel’s welfare.
An insider said: ‘Everyone at Love Productions was, of course, worried to learn about Noel’s ill health, and will do everything they can to support him.
The star spent weeks hiding away at his holiday home in the South of France but this weekend was spotted back in North London
‘Nothing is set in stone, but they are preparing for every possible outcome and have plans in place if Noel is unable to continue as host on series 16.’
It comes after Fielding said last year he would ‘never leave that show’.
Talking about his presenting gig, he told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show: ‘You know what it is the best job in the world, you would never leave that show.
‘It’s on a stately home, you have lambs frolicking, Prue Leith is amazing, Alison Hammond, who’s just joined, is so good.
‘It’s just such a lovely, lovely show. And the bakers are so good, and so brilliant at what they do.’
The decision to cease filming Dick Turpin shocked many fans after the first series, which Fielding co-wrote and starred in, was so successful.
Insiders said Noel, who played the lead role of the legendary highwayman, was unavailable for scheduled and rescheduled filming dates.
One source told The Sun: ‘Axing a show halfway through production is virtually unheard of – plus there’s a mystery over just what has happened.
‘It’s left bosses of other shows he is on feeling extremely nervous. Plus he’ll have to contend with any legal action. It will be a difficult few months for him.’
Another individual close to the production told The Times: ‘Noel has said that he can’t film any more and so there was no choice but to stop.
‘It’s not a decision that was taken lightly and they wouldn’t have got to this extreme result if every possible solution hadn’t been exhausted.
‘People have been very concerned about Noel’s wellbeing and given him time to recover but there are also significant repercussions. Some people are furious.’
Apple and production company Big Talk are working to ensure that people are paid for work delivered on the show.
Stars who had signed up for series two included Jason Isaacs, Dawn French, Miranda Richardson, and Jamie and Natasia Demetriou.
