Channel 4’s answer to the Winter Olympics is back for its third series.

The Jump is infamous for broadcasting C-List celebrities flying off of ski slopes and plummeting to the ground, breaking bones in every nook and cranny of the human anatomy.

Reality TV has seemingly hit an all time low.

Taking a former Superman actor, Arg from TOWIE and Paul McCartney’s ex and injuring them in the name of entertainment may be appealing to many.

However, I can see why there is a public outcry asking to end the show.

It is sad that we live in a society where seeing people suffer potentially debilitating injuries has become a source of entertainment.

It may come as no surprise that in 2012, ITV turned down the offer to produce the series, deeming it as “too dangerous”. Perhaps it would have been a wise decision for Channel 4 to follow suit.

What I find most hard to swallow however is the use of professional athletes.

The likes of Beth Tweddle, Rebecca Adlington and Linford Christie all had to withdraw from this series due to their injuries.

Although all retired, this show has put all of these incredibly skilled and revered sportsmen in a position in which they may never be able to compete at any level ever again.

This would be their livelihoods destroyed.

Obviously, a show like this has to go through multiple rigorous safety checks and thorough precautions must be taken.

Furthermore, in the competitors contracts and in the first stages of negotiation, they are surely informed of the risks that they may face.

It should also be common sense that a show like this doesn’t come without a high level of danger.

So when all is said and done, I don’t believe that Channel 4 should be berated for broadcasting the show when the celebrities themselves are still willing to sign up.

Ultimately, they have only got themselves to blame.

As well as this, the show still has 2.4 million viewers, so whilst The Jump is still hitting modest ratings it will continue to be broadcast.

The best way that those so determined to see its demise can ensure its end is to switch off.

No viewers will mean that Channel 4 will have to sit back, take notice and cancel the show.

Corrie Smith

February 20, 2022

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