Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?

Legal

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC Two

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One London

London

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

BBC One North West HD

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East HD

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One South East

BBC One West HD

BBC One North West

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One West Midlands HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East HD

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One South HD

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands HD

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One Yorkshire HD

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One East

BBC One Channel Islands HD

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One South West HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One East Midlands

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

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

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Nightlight

Ellie Simmonds

Colleen Flynn

Kate Monaghan

Jasleen Sethi

Flicker Productions

Documentaries

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

BBC One - Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?

Swimmer Ellie Simmonds investigates a controversial new drug for children with dwarfism.

Ellie Simmonds investigates a controversial new drug that promises to help children with dwarfism grow closer to average height. If it can prevent dwarfism, should we embrace it?

Ellie Simmonds, five-time Paralympics gold medallist, is used to an environment where difference is celebrated. But now she’s investigating a controversial new drug that some people argue could bring an end to dwarfism.

A pioneering drug is coming on the market that promises to make children with achondroplasia - Ellie’s form of dwarfism - grow closer to average height. A genetic condition, achondroplasia is the most common type of dwarfism in the UK, and the new treatment raises the question: if cutting-edge medicine can stop disability in its tracks, should we use it?

Travelling around the UK and US, Ellie Simmonds explores all sides of this contentious debate, following currently available treatments for dwarfism, meeting families embarking on the drug trial, others who feel treatment would have positively impacted their lives, and those who are proud of their identity and question the aims of the drug.

The road to acceptance and inclusion for disabled people has been hard won, and many feel these gains are in danger of being lost, while others see only positives with breakthroughs in modern treatments. Ellie draws on her own experiences and reflects on wider questions about the relationship between science and disability.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?

Contributors

Genres

Formats

BBC One HD

About BBC One