Following the recent arrival of his baby son, BBC One has commissioned a single film, Surrogacy (w/t) with Tom Daley, to be made by Raw Television.
Daley recently became a father with his husband Dustin Lance Black through surrogacy. In the hour-long film, Daley and Black will “examine a modern phenomenon that they have a strong personal connection to.”
The pair will explore how surrogacy works in the UK, where it’s illegal to advertise for or pay surrogates except for reasonable expenses. He’ll also travel to California, where commercial surrogacy, complete with contracts between surrogates and want-to-be parents, is much more the norm. His journey will also take him to one of the European countries where surrogacy is totally illegal.
The film also explores the relationships that develop between those wanting to become parents and their surrogates. He will also meet the people who oppose surrogacy and, with commercial surrogacy currently illegal in the UK, he’ll meet those who want to change the country’s laws.
Tom McDonald, BBC Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual, says: "Surrogacy is one of the most complex issues in modern society and the laws which govern it are radically different across the world. As new fathers through surrogacy, Tom and Lance are both committed to exploring all of the nuances around this very emotive subject. I’m thrilled that Tom is going to be our guide in this deeply personal and intelligent film."
Surrogacy (w/t) is a Raw Television production for BBC One. The executive producer is Tom Barry. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual.
It is due to air in 2019.
Jon Creamer
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