Born From the Same Stranger ITV: Davina McCall TV documentary follows four strangers from one sperm donor dad

ITV documentary series Born From the Same Stranger, hosted by Davina McCall, follows children who were born from sperm donor fathers as they search for their half-siblings.

The series comes from Wall to Wall Media, the team behind Long Lost Family, another DNA series fronted by McCall. 

Those on the show never knew who their biological father was because he was a sperm donor. In each case of a child born from a sperm donor, they could have any number of half-siblings they are unaware of as UK law provides donors with anonymity.

What is Born From the Same Stranger about?

The first episode of new ITV documentary series brings together four 20 something year olds who never knew each other existed, but who are all half-siblings.

Some children of sperm donor fathers are searching for their siblings, and even attempt to trace their biological father despite the anonymity law. They are aided by DNA technology, professional genealogists and intermediaries and a specially created social media community of other donor conceived children.

Those searching for knowledge of where they came from face barriers and ethical dilemmas, but have the potential of finding half-brothers and half-sisters they never knew they had.

The series features a brother and sister who learn that they have at least 19 other half-siblings and continue to search for more. It also explores the debate of nature versus nurture on a person’s identity. In the first episode, Liam, reads a sentence his sperm donor father wrote to describe his personality, and realises that it is very similar to his own.

Do sperm donors have anonymity?

For many years, those who donated sperm were able to remain anonymous for life, meaning that their details could not be given to their biological children without their consent.

In 2005 the law changed and donors had to agree to be identifiable to their biological children when they turn 18 - this includes the donor's name and last known address.

Although the people involved in the documentary were conceived before the change in the law, they are searching for their biological half-siblings and fathers regardless, even though their task will be much harder.

A maximum of five families of children can be created from a sperm donor, but there is not a limit on the number of children per family, so each child born From a sperm donor could have more than 10 half-siblings they are unaware of.

When is Born From the Same Stranger on TV?

Born From the Same Stranger begins on ITV1 on Monday January 22 at 9pm. There are four episodes in the series and they will be released at the same time weekly. Episodes will be available to watch on ITVX shortly after they are first broadcast.