This year, Paralympic athlete Ade Adepitan will make history as the the first person who uses a wheelchair to enter the I’m A Celebrity jungle in the show’s 24-year history.
In order to accommodate Ade, some changes have had to be made to the show’s camp to make it more accessible.
Prior to Monday night’s launch, ITV shared that Ade was actually flown out to Australia nine months ago to visit the I’m A Celebrity camp and help producers “identify areas that would need to be adapted” for his specific needs.
The gold medallist will make use of three different wheelchairs on the show, including one around camp and one specifically for trials, while a third electric wheelchair can be used on trickier terrain, such as sand.
Pathways have been widened, with rest areas being added to allow Ade to safely and comfortably transfer between his wheelchairs and crutches as necessary. A stairlift has been added to the jungle shower area.
I’m A Celebrity has also done away with its usual treehouse, replacing it with a swing area that is more accessible to Ade.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail has noted that Ade will be able to take part in almost all of the show’s 23 Bushtucker Trials this series, which have been adapted for him.
“From speaking to him and our trial execs we’ve made sure we have adapted the trials,” a producer told the outlet. “[These changes] might be an extra handle or footgrip, just making slight adaptations so he can do the trials.
“We really wanted to set him up to succeed. It is not a tick box exercise for us.”
In a press release, ITV pointed out: “Although the team has worked with Ade on accessibility, he has not been told any format points, Bushtucker Trials or anything else that has been planned for the new series.”
“This will be a total surprise for him, just like everyone else,” they added.
Who is on the I’m A Celebrity 2026 cast alongside Ade Adepitan?
Ade is one of 11 celebrities who entered the camp earlier this week ahead of I’m A Celebrity’s launch show.
Joining him in the jungle will be:
- AJ Odudu
- Chloe Burrows
- Claire Sweeney
- Jack Skipper
- Joanna Page
- Leomie Anderson
- Mariella Frostrup
- Ricky Wilson
- Sharmarke “Sharky” Mohamud
- Wayne Rooney
Comedian Leigh Francis is also expected to make a late arrival further down the line, after being included on a “leaked” line-up published in the tabloid press earlier this month.
