Hidden CONNECTIONS

RUTH MADELEY on discovering a buried secret in her family tree

- CAREN CLARK

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

THURSDAY, 9PM, BBC1 FACTUAL

Ruth Madeley was delighted to have the opportunity to explore her ancestry for BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? — however, she had no idea that a long-held family secret would be unearthed...

The actor and disability activist, who was born with spina bifida and later developed neuromuscular scoliosis, grew up in Bolton with older sister Liz and parents Geoff and Jacquie.

But before filming even began for this week's instalment of the long-running programme, Ruth and her family were stunned to be told by the show’s researchers that Ruth’s paternal grandmother, Beatrice, had been adopted by William and Elizabeth Burrows, who Geoff had believed were his biological grandparents.

Using DNA testing and genealogical records, the episode follows how experts established that Beatrice’s biological mother was Adelaide Osborne, an unmarried domestic servant, who gave birth to her in a Manchester workhouse in 1914.

Here, Ruth, 38, whose credits include BBC1 drama Doctor Who and its spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, tells us about her journey of discovery...

Why were you keen to learn more about your forebears?

I'm incredibly nosy, so being nosy about my own family is just great! I've always desperately wanted to do this show. I'm a huge fan and fascinated by family trees and histories. I was first approached in 2021, and I remember saying to my dad, ‘You'd better not have a boring heritage, or I'll be very upset!’

What did you expect to find out?