Supermodel Janice Dickinson has launched a High Court lawsuit against the producers of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, seeking substantial damages for injuries she claims have left her permanently disfigured.
The Alleged Incident and Injuries
The 70-year-old former model alleges she sustained serious facial injuries after tripping in the dark while getting up to use the toilet during filming. The incident occurred during the 2023 All Stars edition of the reality TV show, which was filmed in South Africa.
Court records confirm a personal injury claim has been lodged against ITV Studios. Dickinson's representatives state the fall resulted in injuries to her head, lips, cheeks, and wrists. They claim the consequences are severe, including permanent facial scarring, deformity, and lasting nerve damage.
A medical report commissioned for the case reportedly diagnoses the star with facial dysaesthesia. This condition causes discomfort, heightened sensitivity, and reduced sensation due to permanent nerve damage. The report also concluded her face has been "permanently altered" with unconcealable scars and permanent asymmetry around her lower face, including the lips, mouth, cheeks, and chin.
Legal Battle and ITV's Response
Dickinson is reportedly seeking more than £700,000 in damages. Her UK representative, Dermot McNamara, stated: "Janice is fully committed to this legal process and seeing it through to its conclusion. She looks forward to unpacking ITV’s defences, when she receives them."
In response, an ITV Studios spokesperson said: “Janice Dickinson’s letter of claim has been received and reviewed. I’m A Celebrity operates a high level of safety protocols and the health, safety and welfare of all of our contributors are our number one priority."
The broadcaster added, "We don’t recognise this version of events." They outlined the support provided, stating: "However, we looked after Janice at the time, paid her medical expenses, flew her home to LA, and the I’m A Celebrity team were in regular contact with Janice and her representatives on an ongoing basis after she returned home to America until after the programme aired seven months later."
Background and Aftermath of the Fall
According to ITV's account at the time, the accident happened when Dickinson tripped in the camp while walking to the long drop overnight. After treatment from the on-site medical team, she was taken to hospital as a precaution. Producers subsequently decided it was best for her to exit the series to recover fully.
Speaking in an exit interview after the fall, Dickinson expressed disappointment, saying: “I could have been the one to be second runner up or even win this series... I felt like they could have possibly cleaned my wounds and set me back on my path in there. But production made the right decision in the end to not send me back in.”
Janice Dickinson, who was runner-up in the original 2007 series of I'm A Celebrity, rose to fame as a top fashion model in the 1980s, appearing on multiple covers of Vogue. The outcome of this significant legal claim against one of Britain's most popular television franchises remains to be seen.
