Interview with Ade Adepitan for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Channel 4

27 August 2024

We sat down with Ade Adepitan ahead of Channel 4's coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Ade, you’re back for another Paralympics on Channel 4! Are you thrilled to be back?
I am most definitely thrilled to be back for the Paralympics on Channel 4. The year of the Paralympics, you sort of wake up with this extra excitement because you know you’ve got one of the greatest global sporting events happening that year. And we’re going to be doing it on Channel 4, and you know what Channel 4’s like, we do it properly.

Tell us what you’ll be getting up to.
My role is to bring energy, entertainment and excitement. It’s also going to be about getting people who might not be into sport engaged with the Paralympics whilst watching my show. Every day we’ll be meeting with the athletes, the public and bringing the excitement.  

And what do the Paralympics mean to you?  
The Paralympics is something that has been on my mind and that I've thought about every year probably for the last 40 years of my life. I’ve been involved either competing or working on the broadcast side with every Paralympics since Sydney 2000. It’s a part of my DNA. It feels like my life wouldn’t be complete without the Paralympics. It’s me.

What are you most looking forward to about Paris 2024? 
It’s great to be back in Europe, I love travelling, but those other time zones were a killer. Paris is one of the most iconic cities in the world. We’re going to do it in style.

Are there certain events you get more excited about than others?
Any event! It’s about the athletes and the people watching at home. I’m looking forward to the wheelchair basketball, we’ve got a chance of winning gold this year.

You’re presenting with Clare Balding and Ellie Simmonds, how important is it to bring new presenting talent like Ellie through who is also such a legend of the Paralympics? 
It’s so important to bring in new talent into the Paralympics presenting team, especially talent that has competed - that was my journey. For a lot of athletes, when they retire it can be really difficult to find a career path that has that same alure and attraction as when you’ve competed in front of thousands of people. But also, Ellie Simmonds is one of the greatest Paralympians of all time. She’s got such a wealth of knowledge and experience from competing that she can bring to the presenting team. She’s a BAFTA winner now, she’s big in the game!  

We can’t forget you’re going to be in Paris! Have you been before? What’s your favourite thing to do?  
Of course I've been to Paris, Paris is lovely.
I get to practice my French! I’m really looking forward to it, it’s Paris! Number one city in the world, apart from London! 

In your downtime from hosting duties, what do you hope you’ll be able to get up to? Anything to tick off the bucket list?  
None of my time is ever down time, even my down time is up time. I’m on it all the time. I’m ready! 

How is your French? Can you give us your best phrase? 
How is my French? My French is Parfait! S’il vous plaît! Jambon! Mon frere! Croque Monsieur! If I am stuck, I just say it with a French accent.

Stream and watch live on Channel 4 all day, every day from Wednesday 28th August to Sunday 8th September