Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family

Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family

Repeat showing of 2024 BAFTA award winning documentary

Available now on ITVX here

Ellie Simmonds is a gold winning Paralympian swimmer who won the nation’s hearts when she took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, the first person with dwarfism to compete on the show. 

Her trailblazing success and can-do positivity are well known to the public, but behind the scenes she’s been living with a secret.  

Just ten days after she was born, Ellie was placed for adoption. Ellie has often wondered if this decision was taken after her parents were told she had a disability and if being born with dwarfism influenced their decision. As Ellie reaches a new stage in her life she wants to reach out and find her birth mother and gain a wider understanding about why children from diverse backgrounds are more likely to be placed for adoption.

Whilst searching for her birth mother, Ellie meets those on the front-line of adoption services in the UK and discovers challenging truths parents are still facing today. This is a story about nature vs nurture, forgiveness and love.