A new emotional documentary will see Ellie Simmonds confront the difficult question of whether she wants to have children.
The upcoming programme, Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? follows the Paralympic swimmer as she grapples with the possibility that her future child may be born with a disability.
Ellie, 30, revealed that she wanted to challenge perceptions about those born with disabilities and to see how things have changed in her mission advocating for equality for disabled people.
In the show, the sportswoman is given access to one of the UK's leading Foetal Medicine Units and is introduced to families who are navigating the difficult process of making choices around prenatal diagnosis of disability.
The ITV documentary follows Ellie as she goes on a personal journey exploring the world of prenatal testing and explores the possible assumption that a disabled person leads a limited life.
She goes on to question if barriers have been tackled by representation in the media through herself and others.
Ellie, pictured on Strictly Come Dancing, revealed she wanted to challenge perceptions of those born with disabilities and to see how things have changed in her mission for equality for disabled people
The sportswoman pictured competing in the Rio Paralympics back in 2016
In the show, Ellie, has been given access to one of the UK's leading Foetal Medicine Units and is introduced to families who are navigating the difficult process of making choices around prenatal diagnosis of disability
Ellie, who has a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia and is a height of 4ft, was the first with the genetic condition to appear on Strictly Come Dancing when she competed back in 2022.
She has won multiple medals during her swimming career and in 2012 she achieved gold in the 400m freestyle and the 200m Individual Medley at the Summer Paralympics in London. She won a further gold in the 200m Individual Medley at Rio 2016.
During the show, which will feature experts including doctors, midwives, geneticists, cardiologists and counsellors, Ellie confronts decisions that she will have to face in the future if she decides to have children.
Ellie shared how grateful she was for those who gave insight into their personal journeys on the documentary and said: 'Now having the understanding of what my birth mother and so many others experienced 30 years ago when it came to disability and pregnancy, I want to see how things have changed for parents today.
'I also want to challenge some of the perceptions that exist today about children born with disabilities.
'It's a deeply personal subject to me, and I'm just so grateful to all those who have let me embark on what are deeply personal and emotional journeys of their own.'
Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual ITV said: 'We're so pleased that Ellie is making this insightful and deeply personal film for us.
'Packed with emotional human narratives and layered with potent dilemmas, this is a film that will shed new light on a significant story of our times with the power both to move us and make us all think: 'What do we feel? What would we do?'
Dancer Nikita Kuzmin with Ellie on Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour
The ITV documentary follows Ellie as she goes on a personal journey exploring the world of prenatal testing and explores the possible assumption that a disabled person leads a limited life
She goes on to question if barriers have been tackled by representation in the media through herself and others
Last year, Ellie appeared on ITV's Lorraine with radio presenter and DJ Tyler, 28, to share their heartwarming encounters with the King.
The two remembered the King's kindness and 'amazing ability to keep the conversation going from person to person'.
Speaking to Lorraine at Buckingham Palace, the swimmer and DJ explained that the two have become regulars at the royal palace, having visited on more than one occasion.
'It's like it has become our second home!' Ellie joked.
King Charles met Ellie at the NatWest Enterprise Award winner, during a reception for Prince's Trust Award 2024 winners, supporters and ambassadors at Buckingham Palace, last year.
Ellie Simmonds recalled her first trip to Buckingham Palace when she first met the late Queen Elizabeth when she was just a teenager.
King Charles met Ellie Simmonds during a reception for Prince's Trust Award 2024 winners, supporters and ambassadors at Buckingham Palace in London last year
'I was 14 when I first came here and I got my MBE by the Queen so yeah, it was a wonderful experience. I got to bring my grandma!' she remembered fondly.
'She loves the Queen, so for me to bring her along, was just... I was quite nervous to meet her though. Really nervous.'
Ellie was awarded her MBE by the former monarch at just 14-years-old following her success at the Bejing Summer Paralympics in 2008.
She won gold medals in the 100 metres and 400 metres freestyle swimming events when she was 13.
Ellie Simmonds: Should I have Children? will air on ITV1.
