Brian Dowling's surrogacy documentary hailed 'beautiful' by viewers

A documentary charting the surrogacy journey of reality television star Brian Dowling and his partner Arthur has been praised by fans as ‘beautiful’

The show aired on RTE in March 2023, and the celebrity couple has been showered with messages of love and congratulations.

The hour-long special featured Brian’s sister Aoife carrying the couple’s daughter, Blake, via surrogate and egg donor.

The programme showed the highs and lows of the nine months journey.

It included all aspects of physical and mental health, and importantly highlighted the legal plight of those on a surrogacy journey in Ireland.

At birth, Aoife was documented on the birth certificate as the legal mother of Blake despite having no biological connection to her, as well as the birth father, which was determined by a DNA test of both Brian and Arthur.

The couple will have to wait two years before both fathers will be placed on the official documentation to have parental rights.

Just some of the comments that poured in on social media included, “Congratulations to Brian and Arthur, baby Blake and Aoife on a beautiful gift to be able to give – much love.’

Another said, “Absolutely loving #verymodernfamily. Could not be more pleased for Brian and Arthur. Such a beautiful family.’

Brian has been vocal about his opinions on Ireland’s surrogacy laws.

The 44-year-old and Arthur said in the past that their journey to becoming parents had been hampered by Ireland’s strict surrogacy laws.

Currently, surrogacy is unregulated in Irish law, and mothers of children born via surrogacy have no legal rights to their children – even if they were biologically related.

He said: “This isn’t just about gay guys and husbands trying to have families – everyone struggles. But I think in Ireland, the rules around surrogacy are absolutely ridiculous.

“The fact that the female egg is put into the surrogate, and then the surrogate is named as the biological mother just isn’t right – they are not even related to the child.”

The couple hopes the documentary will raise awareness of the plight faced by anyone on a surrogacy journey.