Adoption is now high on the political agenda as the best option for the 65,000 children in care. But, with less than 5% actually placed for adoption, children must wait an average two years and seven months for a permanent family. Why does it take so... (more) long? What is the human cost? This Panorama Special follows six children in Coventry waiting to be adopted over six months. Some have waited five years. Others were returned after almost three years with prospective adopters. One child, then aged 18 months, was returned after just two weeks. This film addresses the hidden cost of adoption breakdown. In all cases, the children's pain and longing is tangible.