TV presenter and wheelchair basketball player Ade Adepitan, 53, will enter the I'm A Celebrity jungle on Monday as the first celebrity in a wheelchair to sign up for the show. He joins 10 other celebrities in the Australian jungle for the challenge.
Ade spoke of the "honour and privilege" of taking part, saying: "Words like 'honour' and 'privilege' are ones I feel, but I don't think they sum it up enough. For me, this is a moment in time. Even if I go out in the first week, I will always be remembered as the person in a wheelchair. I am slightly overwhelmed."
Camp adapted for accessibility
New additions to the camp will support Ade during his time on the show, including a jungle stairlift, widened pathways, and dedicated places for him to park his wheelchair and for crutches to be stored around camp. A multi-terrain wheelchair will also be available.
I'm A Celebrity worked closely with Ade, flying him out to Australia in secret ahead of the show to ensure the camp was accessible for him to fully take part.
Scope welcomes disability representation
Joe Marley, Director of Marketing and Communications at disability equality charity Scope, said: "We're really excited to see Ade take on the iconic I'm a Celebrity jungle. Having a disabled person in the line-up of such a popular, primetime show is a brilliant moment for disability representation. Ade is always a delight to watch on screen and has long been a passionate advocate for disability equality. We hope his time in camp gets millions of viewers talking about disability in a positive way."
Marley explained that the adapted camp reflects the Social Model of Disability, which states that people are disabled by barriers in society rather than by their impairment or condition. He said: "Seeing the camp adapted for Ade will feel validating to many disabled viewers. It shows that when accessibility is planned from the start, disabled people can take part on equal terms. It shows the Social Model in action."
Wider impact on disability representation
Scope noted that one in four people in the UK are disabled, and Marley said disability representation on TV, especially a flagship show, "helps to break down barriers, transforms attitudes, and give viewers a greater understanding of the lives, talent, and potential of disabled people."
Recent primetime moments include comedian Chris McCausland, who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, scoring a perfect 40 out of 40 on Strictly Come Dancing for his Waltz to You'll Never Walk Alone, and actress Rose Ayling-Ellis dancing in silence with partner Giovanni Pernice during a Couple's Choice to honour the deaf community.
Marley said the impact of TV shows in breaking down barriers "can't be underestimated," but added that "the media industry still has a long way to go to achieve true disability representation, and real inclusion means involving disabled people at every level, from casting to production." He also stressed the need for media content to accurately represent the full range of experiences of disabled people, including barriers to finding work and the extra costs of day-to-day life, saying this is "vital to include if we want to achieve meaningful, lasting change."
