Latest news with #EllieSimmonds:ShouldIHaveChildren?
Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
'Wonderful woman' Ellie Simmonds praised for brutal honesty on having children
'Wonderful woman' Ellie Simmonds praised for brutal honesty on having children Social media users have showed their support and congratulations to the former Team GB swimmer and her new documentary Ellie was left upset by the conversation she had with her biological mother (Image: ITV GRAB ) The Paralympic swimmer and former Strictly contestant Ellie Simmonds, opened up about her inner conflict about whether or not she should have biological children in her new ITV documentary Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? which aired on Tuesday, May 27. The short film, allows audiences an insight in to life with disabled children as Ellie met with families who have had children with different disabilities. The documentary also saw Ellie have a candid chat with her birth mother, who placed her for adoption just 10 days after she was born. Ellie, who lives with achondroplasia, a common cause of dwarfism, delves in to how her own condition could impact having biological children. Social media users have showed their support for the Paralympian online, saying that she should be proud. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . The former Team GB swimmer shared a post on X saying: "So so proud of this documentary. Cannot thank everyone who let me into their lives and shared their story with me. "Your honesty, bravery and love make this film what it is." She added to the thread of posts: "To be given an opportunity to tackle a subject as sensitive and emotional as this was a privilege I haven't taken lightly. And gosh, was it an emotional journey. Article continues below "Thank you to our director Rosina for being there for me throughout, (inc all my tears!), Emily, Tyler, Colleen, & everyone at Flicker for making this doc. And to Jo Clinton-Davis & team at ITV for recognising the value of a film like this. Representation on TV matters. "I hope people can take away that even with fear, you are not alone and welcoming a baby with a disability is the most amazing thing. "There are some incredible charities and support systems out there should anyone need it. So reach out, talk, and know you're not alone. Content cannot be displayed without consent Social media users took to X to share their support for the documentary: "What a remarkable documentary. So informative and issues sensitively told. You are right to be so proud of this emotional documentary. Thank you Ellie" Another added: "Omg Ellie you are a wonderful woman this programme is so brilliant i can't see through the tears you would be a perfect mother I don't know ow how this doc ends but any child would be blessed to have you" Article continues below One X user even shared their love for the swimmer: "There are so many superlatives I could use to describe #EllieSimonds. She is such a beautiful soul, both inside and out. Her documentary is so informative and poignant." You can now watch Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? on ITVX.
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Strictly's Ellie Simmonds admits she 'cried so much' in heartbreaking family insight
Strictly's Ellie Simmonds admits she 'cried so much' in heartbreaking family insight Ellie Simmonds, a Paralympic swimmer who appeared in the 2022 series of Strictly Come Dancing, has shared emotional insights into the first time she made contact with her birth mum Ellie was left visibly upset by the conversation with her biological mum (Image: ITV GRAB ) Former Strictly star Ellie Simmonds has opened up about the emotional "journey" of establishing contact with her birth mother, revealing that she "cried so much" during the process. Ellie, a celebrated Paralympian with five gold medals to her name, has given an intimate look into her initial heart-wrenching interactions with her biological mother. The Strictly Come Dancing alum, who lives with achondroplasia, a genetic bone growth condition causing dwarfism, was put up for adoption at just ten days old. Now 30, Ellie has since forged a connection with her birth mother, starting with letters and eventually meeting face-to-face, but the experience of writing brought her to tears. Ellie won five gold medals during her successful swimming career (Image: ITV ) In a candid interview with the Guardian in 2023, she described how the situation made her "really emotional" saying: "Going through this whole journey, I cried so much." Article continues below Ellie's status as a celebrity added an extra layer of complexity. She didn't want her birth mum to "get to know" her simply because she was famous; she wished to be seen "as a person." Yet, unbeknownst to Ellie, her mother had discovered her identity over a decade prior, and had been quietly supporting her from afar, choosing to let her daughter "get on" with her life without interference. On the day of their meeting, despite initial nerves, Ellie found comfort as soon as they met: "I was very, very nervous. Then as soon as she walked through the door, all those nerves just disappeared, and we just hugged and cried." What she initially planned as a brief 15-minute meeting turned into a five-hour chat, with Ellie revealing that her mum was similar to her, was talkative, and made her feel comfortable. Ellie appears in a new documentary, 'Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?' (Image: BBC ) Fast forward to this year, and Ellie features in an emotive new documentary titled 'Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?' In the film, her birth mother discloses heartbreaking reasons for relinquishing her daughter. During an emotional phone call, her biological mother confessed: "All I could see was your disability. You can make excuses, but I really did struggle. "I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was the biggest decision of my life. To give your biological child away... it was momentous. I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." Previously, Ellie's birth mother recounted how she had concealed her pregnancy and faced childbirth alone. Nonetheless, after Ellie's adoption, her mother said she reflected on her every single day. Article continues below She detailed how she'd watched her daughter at the Beijing Paralympics and had been her "number one fan". Her mum added that she's proud of her daughter and knows what a "fabulous woman" she is. You can watch 'Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?' today (Tuesday, May 27) from 9pm to 10pm on ITV.
Edinburgh Live
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly star admits 'I cried so much' as she tracks down real mum after being adopted
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Former Strictly star Ellie Simmonds has admitted she "cried so much" while navigating the "journey" of establishing contact with her birth mother. Ellie, a Paralympian who won five gold medals during her successful swimming career, has shared insights into the first heartbreaking interactions she shared with her birth mother. The Strictly Come Dancing star, who has achondroplasia, a genetic bone growth condition that leads to dwarfism, was put up for adoption when she was only ten days old. Since then, Ellie, 30, has reconnected with her birth mother, initially via a letter and later in person, but the experience of writing to her left the star in tears. Speaking to the Guardian in 2023, she said the situation made her "really emotional", adding: "Going through this whole journey, I cried so much." (Image: BBC) Ellie's status as a celebrity added an extra layer of complexity. She didn't want her birth mum to "get to know" her simply because she was famous; she wished to be seen "as a person." However, her mum had actually figured out who she was more than 10 years beforehand, and had been following her career, but she ultimately decided to let her daughter "get on" with her life. On the day they finally met, Ellie felt anxious, but her fears would quickly alleviate: "I was very, very nervous. Then as soon as she walked through the door, all those nerves just disappeared, and we just hugged and cried." What she initially planned as a brief 15-minute meeting turned into a five-hour chat, with Ellie revealing that her mum was similar to her, was talkative, and made her feel comfortable. Fast forward to 2025, and Ellie appears in a new documentary, 'Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?' in which her mum reveals the devastating reasons why she gave up her daughter. (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA) In a heartbreaking phone conversation, her birth mother said: "All I could see was your disability. You can make excuses, but I really did struggle. "I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was the biggest decision of my life. To give your biological child away... it was momentous. I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." Previously, her birth mother detailed how she'd kept the pregnancy a secret and had to give birth by herself. But, despite everything, once Ellie had gone, her mum thought about her daily. She detailed how she'd watched her daughter at the Beijing Paralympics and had been her "number one fan". Her mum added that she's proud of her daughter and knows what a "fabulous woman" she is. You can watch 'Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?' today (Tuesday, May 27) from 9pm to 10pm on ITV.
Edinburgh Live
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly's Ellie Simmonds mum reveals heartbreaking reason she gave star up for adoption
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Simmonds' birth mum heartbreakingly reveals the reason for giving her up in a starkly honest phone conversation, admitting: "All I could see is your disability". In a profound moment set to be aired on an ITV documentary this Tuesday, the ex-Paralympic swim star finds the bravery to contact her biological mother, which leads to a poignant exchange. Ellie, now 30, was relinquished for adoption by her birth mother merely ten days after birth upon discovering that Ellie had achondroplasia, a genetic type of dwarfism. Ellie recounts how her birth mum was brusquely given a leaflet by a medical professional, detailing misconceptions that children with her condition were often thought to possess lower intelligence and typically ended up working at circuses. Their paths crossed again merely two years ago while Ellie was filming the documentary Finding My Secret Family; however, it took time for Ellie to feel prepared to discuss her adoption with her mother. As she embarks on a new intimate documentary journey, Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?, she delves into societal perceptions of raising children with disabilities and ponders over her own decision to have children. In a significant step, Ellie finds the strength to make the call, expressing: "I want to know what it was like for her to decide to put me up for adoption. For her it was 30-years-ago, but it's quite a sensitive, super emotional situation", reports the Mirror. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Her birth mother, whose identity is concealed, told her: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. I don't want to in any way upset you. You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right. "There was a lot in the background going on. I kept the pregnancy a secret, I gave birth on my own. I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt. She said, 'There you go, that's what your baby is going to look like'. I remember thinking I can't cope with this. Maybe I wanted a magic wand. "All I could see was your disability. You can make excuses, but I really did struggle. I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was the biggest decision of my life. To give your biological child away... it was momentous. I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." She added: "I didn't ever forget you. I thought about you every day. When I saw you at the Beijing Paralympics, I thought 'That's my Ellie'. I've been a number one fan. I've watched everything you've done, I'm extremely proud. It's an amazing thing to have a child, there's no love like it. Forward 30 years and I realise what a fabulous woman you are. It's just that you were a bit shorter. You're a completely perfect person in every way." (Image: ITV GRAB) Visibly overwhelmed, Ellie remains mostly quiet and tearful as she takes in her birth mother's words. Eventually, Ellie responds with: "We don't want to blame anyone, decisions are decisions. You're amazing", eliciting the reply: "I don't know Ellie, I think sometimes it was quite cowardly to be honest." Reflecting on the conversation later, Ellie muses: "It seems that she held that guilt for a long time. That's really sad. We put a lot of pressure on the mum in society. It's amazing that she's so honest and open. I think people's fear of a disability is actually a fear of what's inside of them." In the documentary, Ellie engages with doctors, geneticists, and frontline counsellors, and also converses with parents who have grappled with difficult choices upon learning their unborn child has a disability, pondering what her own decision would be. Ellie contemplates: "Being a 30-year-old woman, this is the time people think about starting a family. It's different because I'm living with a disability so I know what it's like to be a disabled person. "If you find out you've got a disabled baby, do people think they can't actually cope with it?"Are they nervous? Do they want a picture perfect baby?" Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? is scheduled for Tuesday 27 May on ITV1 at 9pm.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ellie Simmonds' birth mum breaks down in tears as she explains why she gave her up
Former Paralympian swimming champion Ellie Simmonds has a heart-to-heart with her birth mum in an emotional episode of an ITV documentary, where she is seen breaking down in tears Ellie Simmonds' biological mother has revealed the heartbreaking reason for giving her up in a candid phone conversation, confessing: "All I could see is your disability". In a poignant moment set to be broadcast in an ITV documentary on Tuesday, the ex-Paralympic swimmer bravely contacts her birth mother, leading to a deeply moving exchange. At just ten days old, Ellie, now 30, was put up for adoption by her birth mother after discovering that Ellie had achondroplasia, a genetic condition causing dwarfism. Ellie recounts how her birth mother was bluntly given a leaflet by a medical professional, which suggested that children with her condition were often thought to have lower intelligence and typically ended up working in circuses. The pair re-established contact two years prior while Ellie was working on the documentary Finding My Secret Family, but until this point, Ellie hadn't felt prepared to discuss her adoption with her. Now, as she delves into the societal perceptions of parenting children with disabilities in her new personal documentary, Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?, she also contemplates her own potential motherhood, reports the Mirror. Gathering the strength to make the call, Ellie said: "I want to know what it was like for her to decide to put me up for adoption. For her it was 30 years ago, but it's quite a sensitive, super emotional situation." Her birth mother, whose identity is kept confidential on screen, responds: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. I don't want to in any way upset you. You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right. "There was a lot in the background going on. I kept the pregnancy a secret, I gave birth on my own. I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt. She said, 'There you go, that's what your baby is going to look like'. I remember thinking 'I can't cope with this'. Maybe I wanted a magic wand." The conversation deepens as she admits: "All I could see was your disability. You can make excuses, but I really did struggle. I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was the biggest decision of my life. To give your biological child away... it was momentous. I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." With emotion, she adds: "I didn't ever forget you. I thought about you every day. When I saw you at the Beijing Paralympics, I thought 'That's my Ellie'. I've been a number one fan. I've watched everything you've done, I'm extremely proud. It's an amazing thing to have a child, there's no love like it. Forward 30 years and I realise what a fabulous woman you are. It's just that you were a bit shorter. You're a completely perfect person in every way." Ellie is visibly distressed and mostly silent, shedding tears as she takes in her birth mother's words. Eventually, Ellie responds with: "We don't want to blame anyone, decisions are decisions. You're amazing", eliciting the reply from her mother: "I don't know Ellie, I think sometimes it was quite cowardly to be honest." Reflecting on the conversation later, Ellie muses: "It seems that she held that guilt for a long time. That's really sad. We put a lot of pressure on the mum in society. It's amazing that she's so honest and open. I think people's fear of a disability is actually a fear of what's inside of them." In her documentary, Ellie engages with medical professionals, genetic experts, and frontline counsellors, and also converses with parents who have grappled with difficult choices upon learning their unborn child may have a disability, pondering what her own actions would be. Ellie said: "Being a 30-year-old woman, this is the time people think about starting a family. It's different because I'm living with a disability so I know what it's like to be a disabled person. If you find out you've got a disabled baby, do people think they can't actually cope with it? "Are they nervous? Do they want a picture perfect baby?" Ellie engages with families in a support group in south London, each sharing the revelation of expecting a child diagnosed with achondroplasia. Rosie and Lloyd, who were informed of their son Arlo's dwarfism at the 28-week scan, navigate this emotional journey. Rosie said: "I didn't know what dwarfism was. It was one of the hardest times of my life, I was so scared. As soon as he was Earth-side it was totally eradicated." During her interactions, Ellie meets Levi and Lewis, a couple raising their firstborn Kaylen alongside his grandma Bev. They made the agonising choice to end a subsequent pregnancy after learning the baby suffered from DiGeorge syndrome, which leads to heart defects – a mild condition in Kaylen but far more severe in the unborn child. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Ellie also meets Megan and David, whose infant Cerys is diagnosed with Down's syndrome. While handling the prenatal diagnosis, David admits, "When we found out, it was tough. The idea of anyone bullying my child or making fun of them because of their chromosomes - that kills me." Then, celebrating Cerys's arrival, David adds: "Now we have the lived experience, we get all the joy and wonder of a child with Down's Syndrome." During the film, Ellie also makes the shocking discovery that if she became pregnant with a partner who also has dwarfism, there would be a one in four chance of the child having a 'double dose', meaning the baby would be unlikely to survive. Ellie says: "No parent should have to go through that. While I'm not at the stage of wanting a baby just yet, it's something I will have to consider."
