The Olympian who broke her neck, the soap star who stabbed herself in the head with her own skate

Traditionally you might wish a luvvie luck by saying: ‘Break a leg!’ However, for those entering the risky world of reality television, it would surely be wisest not to.

For, with three Dancing On Ice stars requiring hospitalisation in the run-up to its launch at the weekend, it’s clear that appearing on some light entertainment shows is a hazardous business.

Indeed, traumas are so commonplace that some unfortunates have even managed to injure themselves on more than one show.

Actress and presenter Denise van Outen dislocated her shoulder training ahead of Dancing On Ice’s Sunday launch and previously sustained whiplash on Strictly Come Dancing while rehearsing an energetic jive in 2012.

Others have suffered mishaps with more serious consequences.

Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle and TV presenter Rav Wilding have both taken legal action after suffering life-changing injuries in the name of television entertainment.

Long jumper Jade Johnson also missed an Olympics after injuring herself on Strictly Come Dancing.

So which shows are best avoided — and is anything risk free?

Alison Boshoff weighs up the most dangerous shows on the box, with hazards ranging from dehydration and a snakebite to broken bones and torn ligaments…

 Downhill to disaster

The Jump, Channel 4

The celebrity skiing show was cancelled after an astonishing 34 stars on the competition were injured in just four years on air — some of them severely.

Retired Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle is currently suing the makers of the Channel 4 show, production company Twofour, after suffering life-changing injuries when she slammed into a barrier and broke her neck in 2016.

Retired Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle is currently suing the makers of the Channel 4 show, production company Twofour, after suffering life-changing injuries when she slammed into a barrier and broke her neck in 2016

Beth Tweddle had surgery on her neck and spine and was temporarily unable to walk after the incident on The Jump

Beth Tweddle had surgery on her neck and spine and was temporarily unable to walk after the incident on The Jump

She had surgery on her neck and spine and was temporarily unable to walk.

Beth wasn’t the only star injured that series. Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington suffered a dislocated shoulder, while Holby City actress Tina Hobley was still using a cane more than a year after she injured her knee and shoulder and broke her arm in two places.

Made In Chelsea star Mark-Francis Vandelli also fractured his ankle. In 2017, his TV co-star Spencer Matthews dislocated a shoulder, while Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins fractured his leg.

Former Strictly dancer Ola Jordan said her leg would ‘never be the same’ after an accident on the 2014 series.

Riskometer Rating: 5/5

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Waltzing into A&E

Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1

All sparkle on the surface, the physical demands of dancing are serious, and the BBC favourite can be a dangerous place to be.

Paralympic table tennis champion Will Bayley — who was born with arthrogryposis, which inhibits the movement of all limbs — was ‘heartbroken’ in 2019 after he injured his knee in rehearsals, landing awkwardly after leaping off a table.

He dropped out, and his prospects of competing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics were in doubt. ‘People will say it’s impossible, but I believe it is possible,’ he said.

In the event, the Olympics were postponed due to Covid.

Long jumper Jade Johnson did miss the Olympics after injuring her knee.

She heard it pop as she stood up during rehearsals and dropped out of filming in 2009, missing out on London 2012.

Long jumper Jade Johnson did miss the Olympics after injuring her knee. She heard it pop as she stood up during rehearsals and dropped out of filming in 2009, missing out on London 2012.

Long jumper Jade Johnson did miss the Olympics after injuring her knee. She heard it pop as she stood up during rehearsals and dropped out of filming in 2009, missing out on London 2012.

‘Strictly cost me my place in the Olympics,’ she said. ‘I thought the injury had healed and I was ready, but it flared up before the trials,' she Jade said

‘Strictly cost me my place in the Olympics,’ she said. ‘I thought the injury had healed and I was ready, but it flared up before the trials,’ she Jade said

‘Strictly cost me my place in the Olympics,’ she said. ‘I thought the injury had healed and I was ready, but it flared up before the trials.’

In 2012, Denise van Outen was ‘touch and go’ after giving herself whiplash while rehearsing the jive, but recovered to compete.

But Jamie Laing of Made In Chelsea left the competition before it started in 2019, after damaging a tendon in his foot.

‘It was like stepping on glass,’ he said. He came back in 2020.

TV presenter Carol Vorderman tore her cartilage when she was flung backwards by her partner during a rumba in 2014.

Riskometer Rating: 2/5

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Dancing on pretty thin ice

Dancing on Ice, ITV 

From broken ribs to faces slashed by skating blades, Dancing On Ice seems to feature nasty injuries every year.

Last week, Denise van Outen, 46, was taken to hospital with a dislocated left shoulder after falling during rehearsals.

‘I’ve taken a few tumbles since we started training but, with this one, I knew immediately it wasn’t good,’ she said.

‘I hit my toe pick and went flying. Straightaway I knew I’d done something. I thought, “Please don’t let it be a break”.’

Last week, Denise van Outen, 46, was taken to hospital with a dislocated left shoulder after falling during rehearsals

Last week, Denise van Outen, 46, was taken to hospital with a dislocated left shoulder after falling during rehearsals

She was rushed to hospital just days before her first Dancing On Ice performance, leaving her with a partially dislocated shoulder and tendon damage

She was rushed to hospital just days before her first Dancing On Ice performance, leaving her with a partially dislocated shoulder and tendon damage

In the 2012 series, former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison smashed her own head with her blade during a ballet-like manoeuvre that saw her kick her leg up behind her.

In the 2012 series, former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison smashed her own head with her blade during a ballet-like manoeuvre that saw her kick her leg up behind her.

Luckily, soap actress Jennifer was patched up by paramedics and continued to compete

Luckily, soap actress Jennifer was patched up by paramedics and continued to compete

Last year’s winner Joe Swash was injured when his pro partner Alex Murphy accidentally caught his ear with her skate, leaving Swash wearing a bandage on his head before the final.

In 2018, Coronation Street actor Anthony Cotton broke several ribs after a fall.

In the 2012 series, former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison smashed her own head with her blade during a ballet-like manoeuvre that saw her kick her leg up behind her.

Luckily, she was patched up by paramedics and continued to compete.

And it’s not just the celebrity contestants at risk. Professionals Yebin Mok and Andy Buchanan have also been injured this month.

Mok, partnering Olympic skier Graham Bell, is out of the show for now after being stabbed in the leg by a skating blade.

Judge Jayne Torvill said: ‘This was a particularly nasty one. We have all had a kick on the shin but this was a lot more than that.

Buchanan, partnering WAG Rebekah Vardy, ended up in hospital with a ‘sliced face’ after a rehearsal went awry and her heel injured his cheek.

Vardy said: ‘It was awful; I think I’ve just come to terms with scarring his face.’ 

Riskometer Rating: 4/5

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Taking a dive into trouble

Splash!, ITV

The diving show, which boasted Olympian Tom Daley as a mentor, was axed after two series that included two serious accidents.

Daley had earlier said: ‘Diving is a dangerous sport. It’s tough and so many people have hurt themselves on the board.’

Presenter Rav Wilding developed a blood clot on his lung after surgery to treat a leg injury from training in 2013.

Presenter Rav Wilding developed a blood clot on his lung after surgery to treat a leg injury from training in 2013

Presenter Rav Wilding developed a blood clot on his lung after surgery to treat a leg injury from training in 2013

He was doing a somersault dive and suffered a hamstring avulsion, where the tendon comes away from the pelvis.

He had to cancel his wedding, sell his home and was left with a shorter leg. ‘It’s changed my life and left me with permanent problems,’ he said.

‘At one point, the surgeon basically said I could die.’ Rav was given a five-figure payout when he claimed loss of earnings.

Rugby player Austin Healey injured himself during rehearsals in 2014 while trying to do a difficult dive and left the show.

Co-host Gabby Logan said he was in hospital with ‘no broken bones, although he is in pain’.

Riskometer Rating: 4/5

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It’s a Jungle out there…

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, ITV

The series makes great play of the hazards of living among the deadly critters in Australia.

However, it’s the daily business of being in camp which has proved the biggest hazard over 20 series of the show so far.

Comedian Joel Dommett was hospitalised and had seven stitches in his head after a sign on the set blew over and hit him in 2018.

In the same year, actor John Barrowman ended up in hospital after slipping down some wet steps and spraining his ankle.

And nutritionist Gillian McKeith fainted during a Bushtucker Challenge in 2010, apparently due to dehydration

Nutritionist Gillian McKeith fainted during a Bushtucker Challenge in 2010, apparently due to dehydration

Nutritionist Gillian McKeith fainted during a Bushtucker Challenge in 2010, apparently due to dehydration

The only serious mishap was in 2005, when ex-Neighbours actress Kimberley Davies was injured after jumping out of a helicopter.

She suffered a hairline rib fracture after going into the water and went to hospital by air ambulance.

Some injuries, however, have been critter-related.

Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder showed great sang-froid in 2010 when a snake bit him, exclaiming: ‘Oh you dirty ******d.’

In a similar vein, Olympic athlete Fatima Whitbread had a cockroach flushed out of her nose by Medic Bob after a Bushtucker Challenge in 2011. She kept it.

Riskometer Rating: 2/5

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Celebrities wiped out

Total Wipeout, BBC1

A celebrity version of the ‘toughest obstacle course in the world’ was axed in 2012 after many accidents.

Actor Joe Swash dislocated his shoulder, Kenny Everett’s sidekick Cleo Rocos injured her knee and personal trainer Kevin Adams tore ligaments.

Comedian Dom Joly broke his foot in five places. ‘I had spotted an ambulance on permanent standby,’ he said. ‘I should have known it wasn’t a good sign

Comedian Dom Joly broke his foot in five places. ‘I had spotted an ambulance on permanent standby,’ he said. ‘I should have known it wasn’t a good sign

Comedian Dom Joly broke his foot in five places. ‘I had spotted an ambulance on permanent standby,’ he said. ‘I should have known it wasn’t a good sign.

‘I was told that I had to go to hospital immediately.’

Riskometer Rating: 3/5

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