Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Simmonds is embarking on a deeply personal journey about whether to have children in an upcoming ITV documentary. In Should I Have Children?, Ellie, who was born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, explores the ’emotionally fraught decisions she would, and expectant parents do, face when they are told that their child may be born with a disability.’. Powered by the 30-year-old’s own quest, she investigates the choices around prenatal testing, the implications of those decisions for parents and the evolving societal perceptions of disability over the past few decades.

Through carefully obtained access to one of the UK’s leading Foetal Medicine Units, Ellie also gains access to families who are navigating the often challenging decision-making process that comes with a prenatal diagnosis of disability. The Paralympic gold-medal winning swimmer will also ‘question whether the representation of people like herself in the public eye has brought down barriers’, and also speak to doctors, geneticists, cardiologists, midwives and counsellors who guide these families.

Reflecting on the ITV documentary, Ellie 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.’.

Should I Have Children? comes after Ellie’s previous ITV documentary Finding My Secret Family in which she searched for her biological mother after being adopted at three months old. In the documentary, Ellie reads an emotional letter from her birth mother in which she expresses regret and guilt over her adoption. It said: ‘I’ve suffered with guilt and self-hatred for not being strong enough to cope. I cannot express the happiness I feel to know your parents and siblings have provided you with such a loving environment, that you’re so happy. You’ve achieved so much.’.

Although not shown on the programme, Ellie eventually met her birth mother for the first time and they started rebuilding their relationship during a five-hour conversation. ‘I was so nervous, and we were supposed to meet and I got a migraine and had to cancel, but the second time I got to meet her, but that first moment we just embraced and hugged and it was the most amazing feeling,’ she said.

BBC documentary Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism? previously won her the breakthrough presenter gong at the 2023 Edinburgh TV Awards. She won the first two of her five Paralympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 before retiring after Tokyo 2020. What I Own: I quit London at 48 and bought my first home in Sussex for £325,000. London's cheapest place to rent revealed — but it might not be for long.

Londoners are flocking to this ‘bustling’ neighbourhood 10 miles from the centre. I bought a house with my partner — but when we broke up, he refused to sell. If you live at this house number, your property could be 'cursed'. Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? is coming to ITV and ITVX. Got a story?. If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.