Do I need to declare I'm pregnant for my new TV contract?

[1stimema]

Hello
I'm a TV freelance producer.
I am 19 weeks pregnant.
I am looking for a new job and want to know what my legal position is regarding whether I need to declare I'm pregnant or not?
I would prefer not to, as I've heard horror stories about pregnant colleagues being offered jobs then it being taken away a couple of hours later when the production company has found out that they are pregnant.
The roles I'm going for shouldn't be affected by me being pregnant ie I won't be using a camera.
I know that if you are employed you have to declare 15 weeks before baby is due; is this the same for freelancers or is it different?
Thanks so much

By "freelance", do you mean self employed?

If so, it is your business, and you need to run it as you see fit. If you are not honest with the company you are contracting to, they will make decisions based on that.

Part of being self employed is taking on financial risk. This is one of the markers that helps to set a self employed person apart from an employed person. Self employed people are usually paid a higher rate than employed people, as they don't get SMP, sick pay, holiday pay, etc.

When will your project finish? Would it be done and dusted before your baby comes? As far as I know, self employed people do get SMP, but only at the basic rate.

Hello, by freelance, yes, I mean 'self empoyed'. I don't have my own business, but I do contract work and am schedule D (ie do my own tax return).
I just want to know what my legal position is regarding letting them know I'm 19 weeks pregnant? Is it the same as employees - ie I don't legally need to tell them until I'm 25 weeks pregnant.
Thanks very much

The reason employees have to tell by then is in order to claim their entitlement to maternity leave and pay.

If you are self-employed you have no such entitlements.

Assuming these contracts are such that you will be able to fulfil them - ie won't be disappearing off mid way through - then no reason to tell them when applying, however if you're not showing yet you soon will be, so they are likely to notice anyway, aren't they?

What are you going to do, OP? I'm a freelancer too, and had to get someone to babysit a project whilst I went off to have DD.