Paralympian and television presenter Ade Adepitan is in advanced discussions to join the upcoming series of the ITV1 reality program I’m A Celebrity, potentially becoming the show’s first contestant to use a wheelchair. The 53-year-old, who lost the use of his left leg due to polio contracted as an infant, is reportedly in talks with producers who are exploring ways to adapt the camp and challenges to accommodate his needs.

Ade Adepitan rose to prominence as a member of Team GB’s wheelchair basketball team, earning a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. He transitioned into television presenting in 2002, becoming one of the UK’s first physically disabled presenters with CBBC’s Xchange. His TV career includes travel documentaries such as Beyond Boundaries (2005), where he trekked through diverse and challenging environments, as well as sports coverage, including the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics. More recently, he took part in a wheelchair rugby session with Prince Harry ahead of the Invictus Games in Birmingham next year. Adepitan is also a familiar face on the BBC’s The One Show and a campaigner against disability discrimination.

Sources close to the production say I’m A Celebrity is keen to make the camp accessible to Ade by adjusting living arrangements and Bush-tucker Trials, the show’s signature challenges, to suit his participation. The program has previously included contestants with both visible and invisible disabilities. Notable examples include Paralympic javelin champion Hollie Arnold, who competed in 2020 despite being born without her right forearm, and Kadeena Cox, a gold-medal-winning sprinter and cyclist with multiple sclerosis, who appeared in 2021.

Production insiders emphasize the show’s experience in accommodating diverse needs, noting that the team is accustomed to making adaptations to ensure all campmates are supported. A show spokesperson, however, declined to confirm Adepitan’s participation, stating that any reported names remain speculative at this stage.

If confirmed, Adepitan’s involvement would mark a significant step for representation on I’m A Celebrity and highlight ongoing efforts to make mainstream entertainment more inclusive for people with disabilities. The exact details of how the camp will be adjusted and how Adepitan will navigate the challenges of the show have yet to be finalized.