WINTER PARALYMPICS: CHANNEL 4 MAKE HISTORY WITH ENTIRE DISABLED PRESENTING AND PUNDITRY TEAM
Channel 4 has announced an all-star disabled presenting team for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, who will present on the ground in China.
It is a global first for a broadcaster to have an entire disabled presenting and punditry team for a world class sporting event.
Broadcast Sports award-winning presenter Ade Adepitan will helm the daily highlights show, with former rugby player Ed Jackson and Paralympic champion triathlete Lauren Steadman bringing the Breakfast Show to viewers.
Recently retired Paralympic swimmer Ellie Robinson will be joined by British racing car driver Billy Monger as on-screen reporters and former sit-kier Sean Rose as pundit. Tokyo 2020 presenter Arthur Williams will lead overnight sports coverage.
Channel 4 Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games programming
Paralympics Breakfast – hosted by Ed Jackson and Lauren Steadman
Paralympics Today – hosted by Ade Adepitan
Overnight sport – Hosted by Arthur Williams
Reporting & punditry team – Ellie Robinson, Billy Monger, Sean Rose
Channel 4’s Director of Programmes Ian Katz said, “Channel 4 is incredibly proud to announce a stellar presenting team and - in a first for any broadcaster around the world - an entire presenting team who are disabled...
This is testament to the brilliant disabled presenting talent we have in the UK and underlines our commitment to providing opportunities for people with disabilities and making our output truly representative of the entire population...
“We are looking forward to once again bringing a global audience to the Paralympic Games and are proud of what we have achieved since London 2012, shifting perceptions of disabled people and bringing world-class sporting drama to our viewers through our significant investment in coverage and award-winning marketing campaigns.
“We will bring the best coverage possible to the British public, live from China, so we can all get behind ParalympicsGB and celebrate their success in Beijing.”
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey said, “This all-star disabled presenting team is world-leading and it is a momentous milestone for the UK, displaying pleasing progress on disability representation in broadcasting.
“Coverage of Paralympic Games is always an inspiring reminder that we should be judged by what we can do, rather than what we cannot. The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games presented by this impressive line-up brings that home more than ever, helping us change perceptions of disabled people across the UK.
“I know ParalympicsGB will do us proud and I look forward to watching their endeavours along with millions of people in homes around the country.”
The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 4-13 March.
Channel 4 has exclusive broadcast rights within the UK and its Beijing Paralympics coverage will be produced by Whisper and sponsored by Toyota.