Paris is set to shine even brighter as the 2024 Paralympic Games kick off, and Channel 4 is bringing a dazzling array of talent to cover the action-packed events. The line-up includes veteran sports anchor Clare Balding, Paralympics hero Ade Adepitan, ex-racing driver Billy Monger, and TikTok sensation Fats Timbo, all ready to deliver over 1,300 hours of live sporting triumphs. Ellie Simmonds, who has clinched five gold medals, is gearing up for her first stint as a live presenter at the upcoming Games. Reflecting on her journey, Ellie shared, “I remember watching Athens 2004, because before that I didn’t know there was disabled sport,” revealing how the event was a turning point for her after she saw athletes she could relate to. “I saw people like myself and thought, ‘There’s a thing out there for me. I can do something.’ I found my first disabled gala and then got selected. It’s life-changing for so many people.” Now 29, Ellie is thrilled about her new role following her experience on ITV’s Lorraine as a correspondent. She expressed her excitement, saying, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I love talking. I could talk for England and I’m getting to talk about the sport I love every single day.” Former Royal Marine and broadcaster JJ Chalmers, who’s hosted Olympics broadcasts for the BBC and is prepping for his third Paralympics gig, admits he thrives on the buzz of live TV. “I’ve done it long enough now that I need those nerves to bring me to the best of my performance,” he shared. Reflecting on past experiences, including a challenging broadcast during Rio 2016, JJ reveals, “I would struggle to watch back the Rio 2016 Paralympics. I don’t know how co-host Sophie Morgan and I kept ourselves on air. I like live TV because it could all go wrong at any second.” Then there’s pundit Ade Adepitan MBE’s take on the monumental impact of the Games: “It’s nerve-wracking because of how important the movement and the Games are to me. It’s a shop window that the disabled community gets for two weeks every four years.” Ade Adepitan, himself a Paralympian legend, feels the event transcends athletics. “I feel that the Paralympics is much bigger than sport, even more than the Olympics because people with disabilities all over the world, their lives are tough. Paralympians can change society’s perception of disability and make the lives of disabled people easier.” The gold medal-winning ex-wheelchair basketball star has personal plans too, aiming to have his family, including his three year old Paralympic-obsessed son, in Paris for the games. He quipped about the pressures of fatherhood versus competing: “My son is absolutely obsessed with Paralympic sport… My son knows all the players in the Paralympics team, so for him to be out there would be amazing. Every time I come home, I get, ‘Have you sorted it out yet? ‘ This is tougher than when I was actually competing in the Paralympics!” Gladiators sensation Jodie Ounsley, known as Fury, is set to leave the pugil sticks behind for a stint in the Paralympic village, as she joins the presenting team. The 23 year old deaf rugby star is still coming to terms with her newfound fame and shared a humorous anecdote about being recognised at less than opportune moments. “I was dying for a wee and just needed to get to the loo when two women stopped me. Of all the places! ” she chuckled. Meanwhile, JJ Chalmers opened up about the darker side of fame internet trolling. Despite his rising profile on live TV, he confessed that the negative comments can sometimes get to him. “I would be lying if I said that I don’t take it personally sometimes,” he revealed. “You do develop a thick skin for it and I have a look at it. Although I’m always pleasantly surprised we do have a gallows humour within disability now that people just would never have had before.” Ellie Simmonds, on the other hand, prefers to steer clear of online noise, choosing instead to value feedback from her nearest and dearest. She appreciates her father’s constructive criticism after performances. “Sometimes my dad watches me and gives his criticism of good and bad things I love improving. I’ll probably ask him to watch from home and give me his thoughts,” she mentioned. Ellie also reflected on her time on Strictly Come Dancing, noting that while she did receive some negative attention on social media during the show, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. With a cluster of former Strictly contestants on the Channel 4 team, JJ is eager to exchange experiences with Rose Ayling-Ellis and Ellie. “More people climb Mount Everest every year than have been on Strictly, so it’s a small club. You have to live through that experience,” he reflects. “You go for a coffee and say, ‘How crazy was that? ‘ You can’t describe it.” Ahead of Strictly revealing this year’s line-up, which features blind comedian Chris McCausland and deaf Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, JJ said that the show still has ground to cover in terms of disabled representation. “The disabled community is 15 to 20% of the population, so they should be 15% of your line-up,” he argued. “You probably should have two on that show.” Despite the allure of the dance floor, Celebrity Race Across The World’s Billy Monger, 25, isn’t quite ready to step onto the Strictly stage for fear of a two-left-footed fiasco. “I’ve got two left feet so I’d embarrass myself. I think I’m A Celebrity appeals because you’re in close proximity to so many interesting, different people. Much like presenting the Paralympics coverage!” Paralympics Paris 2024: Opening Ceremony airs on Wednesday 28 August at 6:30pm on Channel 4.
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