Original version

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two England

England

Jaclyn Parry

Ross Wilson

Rachel Keenan

Paul McCaffery

Matchlight

The Making of an Ice Princess

Factual: Life Stories

Sport: Figure Skating

25/05/2016

BBC Two - The Making of an Ice Princess

Documentary following young skater Lily as she trains for the Figure Skating Championships

Documentary following ambitious young skater Lily Matthias as she trains for the British Figure Skating Championships.

Lily Matthias's dream is to be an ice-skating star and to represent her country - ultimately at the Olympics. What that ambition means for her family is mum Lyndsey getting up at 4am six days a week to drive Lily to her training in Blackburn, and dad Wayne spending a fortune every month on lessons, ice time, costumes and competition fees. So strong is Lily's commitment to her training that she's dropped out of school to focus on it. It has been entirely her own decision.

Her trainer Kathryn Hudson says she's the most motivated 11-year-old she knows but also warns that very few actually make it to the top.

Whether Lily can make it will be put to the test at the UK's biggest competition of the year, the British Figure Skating Championships. But Lily faces tough competition from two 12-year-olds - Scot Mia Gallagher who trains six days a week, morning and night, and Genevieve Sommerville, the number one skater for her age group, who is already competing in the advanced novice category.

This film follows the girls' preparation across autumn 2015 as they train towards the British championships and reveals why having an ice princess in the family comes at a price - not just the time spent ferrying the girls to practices at dawn but the huge financial costs and risk of injury involved in the world of competitive skating.

If you have ever harboured even the slightest desire that your child had a special talent or serious sporting prowess, then this documentary may serve as a salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for!

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Making of an Ice Princess

Contributors

Genres

BBC Two HD

About BBC Two