Ade Adepitan Makes History as First Wheelchair User on I'm a Celebrity

Ade Adepitan, a 53-year-old Paralympic medallist and TV presenter, will become the first wheelchair user in the 24-year history of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! The show begins on Sunday at 6pm on ITV1. He will enter the jungle alongside fellow celebrities including former footballer Wayne Rooney and actress Joanna Page.

Producers spent nine months adapting the Australian jungle camp for Adepitan's needs. He was flown to the site in February to advise on accessibility. The extensive modifications include a stairlift to the jungle shower, widened and deepened pathways, lowered water coolers, and new resting areas. Special parking bays for his wheelchairs and crutch holders have also been installed. An executive producer emphasized the effort was about setting Adepitan up to succeed, not a tick-box exercise.

Camp adaptations for accessibility

Adepitan will have multiple mobility aids at his disposal. He will use three wheelchairs in and around the camp, including an electric model for tougher terrain like the beach. Another wheelchair is designated specifically for the bushtucker trials. He will also have three pairs of crutches placed where needed. The iconic treehouse has been replaced with a new accessible swing area. ITV has adapted around 23 trials to allow him to participate in the vast majority, with only a handful potentially ruled out for medical reasons.

Ade's journey and advocacy

Adepitan has used a wheelchair for most of his life after contracting polio as an infant in Lagos. He is an accomplished wheelchair basketball player, winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. His TV career has covered sport, the natural world, and the climate crisis. He has faced significant barriers, from broken lifts at London train stations to taxi drivers refusing to take his wheelchair. One driver lost his job after Adepitan spoke out on social media. He believes society is often ashamed of disabled people and wants his appearance on the show to spark a major conversation. He aims to inspire young people in wheelchairs, showing that with determination anything is possible.

Facing fears and criticism

Despite his athletic background, Adepitan rejects the idea it will help him with the show's notorious trials. He is scared of them. Ade Adepitan said: "You can’t train to be chucked in a box full of rats!" He states that being disabled is like starting a race five miles behind everyone else. His casting has drawn some ableist criticism, with accusations of box-ticking and even cheating because of the camp adaptations. Some viewers wrongly assumed he would be exempt from trials. Producers confirm he will take part in most challenges. Adepitan has not been told about specific trial plans or other format elements. He hopes to make his parents, who sacrificed to bring him to the UK, proud. For his final exit, Adepitan will choose whether to use his wheelchair or crutches to cross the iconic bridge walkway.