Janice Dickinson files High Court claim against ITV over I'm A Celebrity injury

Janice Dickinson has issued a High Court claim against ITV over injuries she sustained during her appearance on I’m A Celebrity: South Africa, alleging negligent safeguarding and a failure to protect her while filming. The 70-year-old US model quit the 2023 South African edition after head and facial injuries suffered when she tripped in the dark at the jungle camp. The claim arrives just days after Dickinson publicly indicated she had launched a personal-injury action against ITV, seeking damages related to the incident, which occurred before the series aired.

The star’s account centers on an October 2022 incident during the pre-recorded phase of the show. Dickinson has previously described tripping and falling face-first while attempting to find the toilet in darkness in the camp. The injuries required medical attention, and she has said she was left with significant facial damage and ongoing pain. Public reporting at the time noted she underwent immediate treatment in a camp medical hut and later required hospital care after being flown back to Los Angeles. Dickinson has also discussed additional medical needs tied to the fall, including injections for rabies, which she said ITV initially refused to cover, and the broader questions those costs raised about the responsibility of the production company during and after filming.

ITV has responded to Dickinson’s allegations by saying it will study the new claim and the details as they are presented. A spokesperson for the network stressed that I’m A Celebrity operates with a high level of safety protocols and that the health, safety and welfare of all contributors are a priority. The statement added that ITV looked after Dickinson at the time, covered her medical expenses, and arranged her transport back to Los Angeles, with ongoing contact from the I’m A Celebrity team after her return until the programme aired seven months later. The channel did not recognise the version of events described by Dickinson but insisted it had fulfilled its duties to her during and after filming.

Dickinson’s representatives have signaled that the High Court claim is active. Dermot McNamara, Dickinson’s representative, confirmed to The Daily Mail that a claim had been issued at the High Court in relation to her I’m A Celebrity appearance and that Dickinson intends to set out her full account in due course. The filing comes as Dickinson continues to articulate how the incident affected her during and after the broadcast, including issues surrounding care and communication while she was back in the United States.

The push for accountability comes amid broader attention to the safety protocols surrounding I’m A Celebrity: South Africa, which is set to return with a second All Stars edition in 2026. Ant & Dec are currently in South Africa filming, and reports have circulated about the potential lineup for the next All Stars run, with names such as Gemma Collins, Harry Redknapp, David Haye, Craig Charles, and Ashley Roberts mentioned as possible entrants. ITV has not publicly confirmed the cast, but the development underscores ongoing interest in how the show manages risks in a high-pressured, remote production environment. The All Stars concept, announced as a reimagined return of memorable contestants from earlier years, is being staged in South Africa, where Dickinson’s injury occurred, and which has become a focal point for discussions about camp safety and medical readiness on reality programs.

Dickinson’s case adds to a broader conversation about the duty of care in reality television, particularly for older participants and for productions that operate across international borders with complex medical and logistical needs. Legal actions tied to on-set injuries have drawn scrutiny of how quickly production teams respond to medical emergencies, how costs are covered, and how continued care is coordinated after a participant leaves the show. Dickinson’s filings and public comments will be closely watched for details about safeguarding protocols, response times, and any gaps that she contends contributed to the severity of her injuries.

In the immediate term, Dickinson’s litigation may test how compensation claims for on-set injuries intersect with the broader commercial and contractual relationships between talent, production companies, and broadcasters. ITV’s stance emphasizes the steps it took to care for Dickinson at the time, while Dickinson’s advisers focus on safeguarding lapses and the longer-term consequences of the accident for her health and finances. As the court process unfolds, observers will look for a detailed chronology of events, the medical record surrounding the injury, and how ongoing medical needs were managed following Dickinson’s return to the United States. The development also intensifies interest in how future All Stars productions will address risk management and participant welfare from pre-production through post-show recovery.