PARALYMPIAN AND 'STRICTLY' STAR ELLIE SIMMONDS JOINS A ROYAL CAMPAIGN TO HELP GIRLS

Since retiring from elite sport three years ago, Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds has only found one thing that comes close to the adrenaline rush of winning a race.

"I got it again when I was doing Strictly Come Dancing, with all the nerves and emotions," says Ellie, 29, who swapped the swimming pool for the ballroom in 2022.

And as we join her for this exclusive interview, Ellie reveals she is in search of another high.

"I do miss competing, I'm not going to lie," she says. "I want to find my next big challenge."

Having won five Paralympic golds and become the youngest person to receive an MBE in 2009, aged 14, when she was presented with the honour by Queen Elizabeth II, Ellie has rubbed shoulders with her fair share of royalty.