Dragonfly to Produce Down’s Syndrome Doc for BBC One

LONDON: BBC One has commissioned Dragonfly, part of Endemol Shine Group, to produce an hour-long documentary that examines the impact of a new Down’s Syndrome screening test.

The documentary follows actress Sally Phillips, the mother of a child with Down’s Syndrome, as she explores how this test, which is said to detect the extra chromosome in 99 percent of pregnancies, could influence society. The program will feature contributions from experts and supporters on both sides of the debate, including children and adults with Down’s Syndrome and professors in the field of genetics.

The title looks into how this scientific breakthrough could alter the future of Down’s Syndrome at a time when the life expectancy and well-being for those born with the disability continues to improve. In a world in which prenatal genetic testing is predicted to become routine, the title asks what the future holds for people with disabilities.

Emma Loach, executive producer at Dragonfly, commented, “There couldn’t be a more important time to explore the complex moral and ethical dilemmas at the heart of this debate. With developments in the pregnancy screening process and continuing advancements in gene therapy and gene editing, this film sets out to explore all sides of this contemporary issue.”

Loach is executive producer on the project, and Clare Richards will serve as producer and director. The documentary was commissioned by Maxine Watson, commissioning editor of documentaries for BBC.