The Jump: Even Davina McCall is shocked that celebrities still want to take part

Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle and actress Tina Hobley were among those injured last year

The majority of last year's celebrity skiers were forced to pull out of The Jump on medical advice (Channel 4)

Davina McCall has expressed her surprise at Channel 4’s decision to bring back The Jump for a fourth series despite the majority of celebrities ending up in hospital after last year’s run of the skiing contest.

The TV presenter was asked by Jonathan Ross on his weekly chat show whether she fears a contestant could die, to which she replied: “Yeah, it is a bit like Don’t Try This at Home. I worry about that as well.”

McCall added that the celebrities are “given the best care and taught by the best teachers and are love-bombed for the entire time they are there”, but admitted that when they flew back from the Alps, it was “like an air ambulance”.

“It is coming back,” she said in confirmation. “I didn’t think we’d be able to get anybody on it but people still want to do it, which is great.”

It remains to be seen which famous faces are mad enough to tackle events like The Skeleton, but McCall has ruled herself out of ever competing. “I’m not allowed, they can’t have the presenter on crutches,” she said, somewhat ominously.

While some celebrities have escaped fairly lightly with broken thumbs and sprained knees, others have been left with much more serious injuries.

Holby City actress Tina Hobley has been struggling to “drive, dress and wash” after suffering a dislocated elbow, injuring her knee and shoulder and breaking her arm in two places last series.

“My injuries have had a huge impact on my life and on the family,” she said earlier this month. “My daughter has had to help me put my clothes on and for months I haven’t been able to take the kids to school, run errands or do things like yoga.”

Former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle was involved in a horrific crash during filming which left her needing surgery on her spine, while champion swimmer Rebecca Adlington was forced to pull out on medical advice after hurting her shoulder.


 Rebecca Adlington was badly injured while participating in The Jump 
 (Channel 4)

Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding, Made in Chelsea’s Mark-Francis Vandelli, Olympic gold medal winner Linford Christie and comedian Marcus Brigstocke were among other celebrities to leave The Jump with injuries.

Channel 4 issued an apology after Hobley’s fall, which was caused by human error when members of the ground crew failing to clear the outrun as she jumped.

“Since launch 46 celebrities have taken part successfully,” a statement read. “Though it is a new course the events have been designed to be no more difficult than in previous years and all contributors have undertaken a rigorous training programme to prepare them for the show.

“All winter sports carry some element of risk but in light of the number of injuries this year, Channel 4 has asked the producers to review safety procedures again to further reduce the prospect of accident.”

The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 10.30pm on ITV1