Channel 4 has become the first broadcaster to have an entire presenting team who are disabled for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.
The all-star presenting team will be on the ground in China, hosting over 80 hours of live coverage on Channel 4, plus streaming on C4’s YouTube channel.
Paralympic champion triathlete Lauren Steadman and former rugby player Ed Jackson will bring the Breakfast Show to viewers, while Broadcast Sports award-winning presenter Ade Adepitan will helm the daily highlights show. Tokyo 2020 presenter Arthur Williams will then go on to lead overnight sports coverage.
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.
Channel 4’s Director of Programmes Ian Katz said the broadcaster is “incredibly proud” to announce the presenting team and hopes the coverage will continue to “shift perceptions of disabled people”.
“This is testament to the brilliant disabled presenting talent we have in the UK and underlines our commitment to providing opportunities and for people with disabilities and making our output truly representative of the entire population,” he added.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey said the announcement of the “all-star” presenting team 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,” she said.
