Ross Kemp experiences emotional breakdown as he uncovers a decades-long family mystery on Who Do You Think You Are?
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Struggling to hold back tears, Ross Kemp let out an emotional journey in Tuesday's episode of "Who Do You Think You Are"? The actor, 60, well-known for his role as Grant Mitchell in "EastEnders," was featured in the latest series of the popular genealogy documentary series.
Kemp was on a Personal odyssey, seeking answers about his mother's lineage, including his great-grandfather, nicknamed "Pop," who was a pub-dwelling, beefy, and loving family man in Portsmouth with ten siblings.
His mom, Jean, had previously shared with him a family legend - his grandfather had shown up at the door in a U.S. military uniform after being shipwrecked in the southern China Sea. Kemp's investigation traces the true story of that fateful day.
Voicing the backstory, the narrator explains, "On 11 July 1943, Pops' troop ship, the Duchess of York, and its convoy were traversing more than 300 miles off the Portuguese coast when three planes departed from France." Confronted with this truth, Kemp's eyes glazed over, and he dabbed a tear from his face.
The historian, Sarah Louise Miller, informed him that the ship had been struck twice, finding itself catching fire. As she recounted the events, Kemp was moved to tears.
Clearing his throat, he whispered, "Sorry, I'm getting emotional."
Miller comforted him: "It would have been a terrifying situation."
Battling back emotions, Kemp inquired, "But he survived, right?"
Miller confirmed: "He did."
The narrator continued, "89 lives were lost from the Duchess of York that night, and the ship sank. Survivors, including Pop, had no choice but to navigate a perilous 700-mile sea voyage to Casablanca."
Kemp's curiosity compelled him to unearth more about his ancestor, finding a captivating story in the storied books of his lineage. After uncovering the truth, he smiled, saying, "It sounds like I'm laughing about the shipwreck, but I wondered if it happened!"
Reflecting on his findings, Kemp shared, "It's a peculiar sensation to ponder someone I've heard tales of all my life, a traveling man, and seeing similarities in myself. His life echoed several aspects of mine."
His poignant reflection on the experiences of loved ones transcends time, revealing a heartwarming, cross-generational bond that unites them all.
Who Do You Think You Are?" airs on BBC One and is available for streaming on iPlayer.
Additional Info:- During his journey, Ross Kemp discovers that Pop's U.S. Army uniform was not a result of being shipwrecked but rather due to his service as a Merchant Navy sailor in the Burma Campaign[2][4]. Despite this twist, the warmth and love Pop had for his family remained untouched.- In a touching moment, Kemp gifts his mother a framed portrait of Pop from their genealogical findings, an precious keepsake for memories yet to be made[1].
In the journey of discovering his mother's lineage, Ross Kemp uncovered various enthralling stories. Apart from the family legend, he unearthed videos and news about his great-grandfather's service in the Merchant Navy during the Burma Campaign. Furthermore, Kemp found himself captivated by celebrity appearances and acts in the entertainment industry, comparing them to the stardom his great-grandfather seemed to possess among his ten siblings.
