From The Jump to Splash: Worst Reality TV Show Injuries

A broken back, a dislocated shoulder, a broken leg in nine places, a fractured ankle, a dislocated elbow, a “devastating” leg injury, a blood clot on the lung, snapped cruciate ligaments, ripped ligaments, torn ligaments, whiplash, friction burns, and even a death.

Copyright [Channel 4 Supplied by WENN]

It sounds like an awful night in A&E. But these injuries were all picked up on reality TV shows, most of them occurring on Channel 4’s winter sports show The Jump.

In the latest series, Britain’s most successful gymnast, Beth Tweddle, 30, broke her back during rehearsals, Olympians Rebecca Adlington, 26, and Linford Christie, 55, suffered a dislocated shoulder and an injured hamstring respectively, actress Tina Hobley, 44, dislocated her elbow and TV star Mark-Francis Vandelli, 26, broke his ankle.

Copyright [Channel 4 Supplied by WENN]

Channel 4 jumped into action earlier this week to reassure viewers they were launching a safety investigation, and several ex-competitors have shot to the show’s defence, including Melinda Messenger, Ola Jordan and Marcus Brigstocke.

It’s not just the UK viewers who are worried about The Jump, though Following the flurry of injuries, publications in Australia and America have been quick to question whether further celebs will sign up.

CNN asked: “Is this sport’s most dangerous reality TV show?”

Splash!

If the news network poses that question to TV presenter Rav Wilding he may disagree. As far as we know, none of The Jump stars have been told “you could die” as a result of their injuries.

Ladies and gents, meet Splash!.

Former Crimewatch presenter Rav was awarded a five-figure payout from the ITV show - which was axed after two series - when he claimed against loss of earnings after developing a blood clot on his lung following surgery to treat a leg injury he suffered in a training accident.

He later revealed: “It’s been so hard. At one point the surgeon basically said I could die.”

While it’s not quite cheating death, Gemma Collins’ breasts nearly suffered a similar fate when they were left black and blue after weeks of gruelling training on the show, in which stars tried to master the art of diving.

Copyright [WENN.com]

Total Wipeout

There were bruises galore and far more serious injuries on BBC game show Total Wipeout, in which 20 contestants had to compete in It’s A Knockout-style challenges, culminating in the so-called “toughest obstacle course in the world” - the dreaded Wipeout Zone.

While watching members of the public, plus our favourite former soap stars and has-been singers in the celeb version, bounce onto big red balls above a pool of water was amusing, some contestants didn’t see the funny side of the show as they got well and truly wiped out.

Jade Goody’s personal trainer Kevin Adams suffered torn ligaments, and Kenny Everett’s former sidekick Cleo Rocos suffered up a knee injury.

Both were reported to have asked actors’ union Equity for legal advice about whether they would have a case for compensation against the show, which was axed in 2012.

Tumble

Two years after the BBC cancelled Total Wipeout, gymnastics show Tumble vaulted onto our screens.

You can probably guess what it’s about - Z-listers take part in the sorts of gym events you used to try to skive at school. OK, bouncing on a trampoline doesn’t sound as bad as attempting a ski jump the height of three double decker buses, but there were injuries aplenty.

The final of what turned out to be the first and last series of the programme looked to be in crisis at one point as five of the six stars set to compete suffered injuries.

Among them, Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding, 34, and H from Steps, 39, both suffered friction burns on their backs, and the latter suffered severe whiplash and a badly bruised his nose after bashing himself in the hooter with a rhythmic cane. No one needs that.

Copyright [BBC One/ Supplied by WENN]

I’m A Celebrity

Let’s not forget the dangers campmates suffer on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, where if the wrath of Lady C’s tongue doesn’t finish you off, then a snake will have a good go.

Who can forget Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder in perhaps the manliest reality TV moment of all time when a slippery serpent sunk its fangs into the 53-year-old star’s hand, and instead of wincing with pain he scolded the reptile, blasting: “Oh you dirty b*****d, I will pull you out and…”

It’s not just the humans who are at risk in these reality TV shows, though. Spare a thought for the animals. In the latest I’m Celeb series, a poor, innocent spider was eaten alive by TOWIE’s Ferne McCann, 25.

Where Will It End?

So, how long is it until someone connected with one of these reality TV shows dies? Well, tragically, that has already happened.

In 2013, the French version of Survivor, Koh-Lanta, was cancelled after a 25-year-old contestant died on the first day of filming the show’s 16th season.

Gérald Babin became ill during a tug-of-war with other contestants and had to be airlifted to hospital. On the way he suffered several heart attacks and sadly died.

Despite the grave dangers of these shows, there will also be fame-hungry and money motivated celebrities who will be desperate to sign on the dotted line, and of course those who want to do it for the “incredible experience”.

Copyright [ITV/ Supplied by WENN]

And if the celebs keep on coming then so will the viewers.

OK, there may not be tens of millions of us tuning into The Jump - viewing figures fell 400,000 to 1.9m for the second episode of the current series - but we know from the success of shows like You’ve Been Framed there’s something in us which enjoys laughing at the misfortune of others.

One bookmaker has priced The Jump as odds-on to be axed after the current series, and one solicitor, Quittance Personal Injury, estimated The Jump could owe up to £31,000 per day due to injuries incurred by celebs.

But if The Jump does follow Total Wipeout, Tumble and Splash! into the reality TV show abyss, then what dangers will our loveable Z-listers face next?

Could we soon see a Hunger Games-style reality show? I wouldn’t rule it out.