The Hollywood screenwriter and British Olympic diver welcomed their first child, a son called Robert Ray, via a surrogate in June.
- Aug 8, 2018
AceShowbiz - Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley will open up about their journey into fatherhood in a new documentary on same-sex surrogacy.
The Hollywood screenwriter and British Olympic diver welcomed their first child, a son called Robert Ray, via a surrogate in June.
On Tuesday, August 07, BBC One bosses confirmed they have commissioned the married couple for an hour-long film to look into the practice across the world as "experts from experience".
The 24-year-old athlete will reportedly explore how surrogacy works in his native U.K and examine where it's illegal to advertise for or pay surrogates except for reasonable expenses. He will also travel to California, where commercial surrogacy is widely accepted, and other European countries, where the modern phenomenon is completely illegal.
Throughout the documentary, due to air in 2019, Tom will address whether the American or British system works best and whether surrogacy in the U.K. requires reform. It comes after the couple recently revealed they had chosen to raise their son in London due to their worries about America's turbulent political climate.
"Surrogacy is one of the most complex issues in modern society and the laws which govern it are radically different across the world," said Tom McDonald, the BBC's head of specialist factual and natural history commissioning.
"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."
With the arrival of his new baby son, @TomDaley1994 will be investigating the world of surrogacy in the US and UK in a new film for BBC One, due to air in 2019. https://t.co/2erHY0jmkopic.twitter.com/t3xIzcv5jZ
— BBC One (@BBCOne) August 7, 2018
Dustin, 44, and Tom announced they were expecting in an emotional Instagram post on Valentine's Day this year, in which they shared an image of their unborn child's ultrasound scan. The couple, who wed in May 2017, confirmed their son's arrival with a notice in British newspaper The Times, which revealed the new tot had been named after the diver's father, who died in 2011 after battling brain cancer.
Sharing the first image of the newborn to Instagram in June, the "Milk" writer thanked those "who helped turn our dream of having a family into this wonderful reality."
