I'm A Celeb producers spent nine months adapting jungle camp for Paralympian Ade Adepitan's 'bespoke' needs as he prepares to make history as show's first wheelchair user

He is set to make history as the first wheelchair user to take part in I’m A Celebrity in the show’s 24-year history.And ITV producers have spent nine months transforming the camp to ensure it is fully accessible for Paralympian and TV presenter Ade Adepita - installing rest areas, wheelchair bays, crutch holders and making a host of bespoke adaptations.Productive conversations with the disabled TV presenter, 53, about joining the 2026 series started last year.Adepitan was later flown to Australia with producers back in February to advise on how they could create a camp that met his needs.Across the new campsite, Adepitan has three wheelchairs and three sets of crutches.He has a further two wheelchairs - one at the trial area, and an electric one for tougher terrain like beaches. I'm A Celeb producers spent nine months adapting jungle camp for Paralympian Ade Adepitan's 'bespoke' needs as he prepares to make history as show's first wheelchair user One new feature for the Paralympian, 53, is a stair lift which takes him to the famous jungle showerElsewhere, the angles of the steps have been changed to make it easier for his crutches. All of the paths have been widened, while water coolers have been lowered for him.Plus new areas have been installed for resting along the path from camp to the creek.And instead of the famous treehouse, they have introduced the swing area, which is accessible for Adepitan. ‘We have put rest areas in, wheelchair bays, and holders for Ade’s crutches. Everything has been adapted, almost bespoke to his needs. It has been an education for us because his needs are bespoke to him, they are not the same needs as everyone with disabilities, everyone is different and that has been a real eye opener. It has been very collaborative,’ an executive producer told the Daily Mail.Another new feature for Adepitan is a stair lift which takes him to the famous jungle shower.He will enter the jungle on Monday alongside stars including Wayne Rooney, Joanna Page, and Ricky Wilson.And whether he is voted off or crowned King of the Jungle, Adepitan will make his exit via the iconic bridge walkway, with the decision of whether to use his wheelchair or crutches left entirely up to him.‘Society is not made for people like Ade, or anyone with disabilities, so he works out what he needs to do and that’s what he’ll do in camp,’ they said. Instead of the famous treehouse, they have introduced the swing area, which is accessible for Adepitan 'We have put rest areas in, wheelchair bays, and holders for Ade’s crutches. Everything has been adapted, almost bespoke to his needs.# And whether he is voted off or crowned King of the Jungle, Adepitan will make his exit via the iconic bridge walkway, with the decision of whether to use his wheelchair or crutches left entirely up to him‘We have worked with him enough to go here you go and we’ve adapted enough and hope he will succeed. He is going to educate us, the viewers and his campmates.’And it is not just the camp itself that has been adapted. ITV has also made changes to the trials to ensure Adepitan can take part in the vast majority of challenges.There will be around 23 trials throughout the series, with the presenter expected to be ruled out of only a handful on medical grounds.The executive producer said: ‘I’m proud to say that from speaking to him and our trial execs we’ve made sure we have adapted the trials. It 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.’A source also insisted Adepitan would be getting stuck into the challenges, despite concerns from some viewers that his disability might mean he would be exempt from most of them.‘Ade wants to inspire young people who are also in a wheelchair, and show them it is possible to do anything when you put your mind to it,’ the source said.‘He is a really impressive man. He is super fit, his upper body strength is incredible.‘There has been some concern from viewers about Ade joining the line-up, with many assuming he will be exempt from all trials, but that is not the case. From the moment viewers see him on screen they will be impressed. He will very much be getting stuck into this series. The I'm A Celebrity 2026 camp is ready for a new batch of celebrities Ade will enter the jungle on Monday alongside stars including Wayne Rooney, Joanna Page, and Ricky Wilson‘He can take on water trials and everything. And if Ade makes it to the Cyclone, he will be doing it.’Ade lost the use of his left leg after contracting polio at the age of 15 months.Ade shot to fame as a star of the Team GB wheelchair basketball team and won a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece before embracing a new career in TV.He trekked through rainforests, deserts, rivers and mountains in Nicaragua for 2005 BBC documentary Beyond Boundaries.Adepitan has worked on a string of other travel shows, as well as sport, including the London 2012 Paralympics and Rio 2016.In July, he played wheelchair rugby with Prince Harry ahead of next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham.