As parents, they have lived and breathed every nail-biting moment of their daughter Ellie’s incredible career spanning four Paralympic Games.
But nothing could prepare Steve and Val Simmonds for the emotions they felt as they settled down in front of the telly on Saturday night to watch her Strictly Come Dancing debut.
“Oh, yes, we were nervous,” dad Steve explains. “Eleanor was very nervous too and she shared that feeling with us, so yes, we were apprehensive.”
