Known for her compelling performances in Line of Duty and This is England, actress Vicky McClure has always held a special connection to her roots. Vicky kicks off the latest series of Who Do You Think You Are? with a testament to the strength found in family ties.

Emerging from the vibrant streets of Nottingham where she still resides, Vicky carries with her the essence of her working-class upbringing. Her stories often echo that of her grandmother Jean, whom she fondly referred to as “Nonna Jean.” Within the first moments of the episode, viewers are introduced to Vicky’s insecurities about unravelling her family’s past as she acknowledges the uncertainty that comes with delving into her lineage.

“My mum’s side is where there’s a lot more holes.” It is this admission that sets the stage for an emotionally charged exploration of her family history, with the gap in knowledge surrounding her grandmother’s life casting a poignant shadow.

The Heartbeat of Nottingham

Vicky is undeniably shaped by her upbringing in Nottingham. It is the city where she honed her craft at the TV Workshop—a defining institution in her artistic journey, which she joined at the tender age of 11. Yet while she exudes strength and determination in her roles, the candid glimpses into her personal life reveal a sensitive heart. Describing herself as a “homebody” who finds solace in family, Vicky paints a picture of a grounded individual tethered to the comforts of home and heritage.

As she opens up about her family, the seriousness of her grandmother’s struggles becomes apparent. Her father remembers how tough things were for his mother. She reveals, “We’re very much a working-class, hardworking family.” This pride in her roots is evident throughout the episode, particularly in the moments dedicated to exploring Nonna Jean’s life story.

The narrative takes a sombre turn when Vicky reflects on the struggles of her grandmother, who experienced abandonment as a child. “She was raised by a foster family who treated her terribly,“ Vicky says. The mention of her grandmother’s difficult start to life and the hardship and mistreatment she faced creates a connection between Vicky’s present and her family’s past.

As the episode unfolds, Vicky’s quest for understanding leads her to family members, notably her Auntie Pam, who has carried out some of the family history research. In her conversations with Pam, Vicky learns of the painful truth surrounding Nonna Jean’s experiences—specifically, the cruel nature of the foster care that she endured. “She had to barricade herself in just to feel safe,“ Vicky recounts before pausing, grappling with the weight of this reality.

Threads of the Unknown

With the focus shifting towards the mystery of Nonna Jean’s abandonment, Vicky’s determination to unearth the details becomes clear, as she strives to understand why her grandmother was placed in the care of individuals who failed to protect her.

Vicky discovers critical details about her great-grandparents, Ruby and Thomas Compton. A birth certificate reveals Jean’s birth in December 1925, unveiling a new branch of her family tree. She learns that Nonna Jean was one of several siblings, an aspect of her grandmother’s life that connects the dots of a larger family narrative, one that has been obscured by time.

However, as Vicky digs deeper, the lack of presence of Thomas Compton raises more questions than answers. Records show that he was a steward on a steamship and so was often away for long periods. The story takes a pivotal turn as Vicky and local historian Emma Lingard seek to understand more about the Compton family background.

Vicky learns that the context of their living conditions in Grimsby—a port town teeming with industry and hardship—was pivotal to the family’s experience. “Ruby was living with her parents with her young family,“ Emma elaborates. This revelation paints a troubled picture of family life, reflecting societal challenges that would culminate in the circumstances of Jean’s abandonment.

The Search for Truth

Vicky’s journey leads her to her distant relative, Nick, who holds additional pieces of the puzzle. As she sits down with Nick to discuss the familial ties, they share photographs, childhood stories, and the collective desire to bring clarity to their family’s past.

Vicky learns of Thomas Compton’s complex relationship with Ruby. Thomas’s letters to Ruby indicate a deep yearning and also provide glimpses into marital strife. His words—“I hope you and the kiddies continue well dear, I hope more than that you were true and faithful to me”—speak volumes of a family torn by separation and unspoken secrets. A particular letter from April 1925 reveals Thomas’s anxiety regarding another potential child: “Don’t make another mistake.”

As Vicky processes the emotional weight of this correspondence, she begins to unravel profound implications—did Ruby’s abandonment of Jean stem from an unstable marriage? Or was Jean’s birth a consequence of infidelity? The importance of these inquiries resonates deeply with Vicky as she works to contextualize the life of her cherished grandmother, seeking to reconcile both love and loss.

In piecing the details together, Vicky grapples with the heart-wrenching reality of her grandmother’s situation. “It sounds to me like my great grandmother, made some choices along the way that created bumps in the road for their marriage and for their relationship, but they stuck together. And I think that’s really admirable. And, you know, my Nonna and granddad were together for 74 years. So, you know, longstanding marriages are a thing in our family.” she muses.

Reflecting on the revelations of the story of Nonna Jean—a woman who overcame adversity to build a loving family—fills Vicky with a sense of pride, closing a circle that began with uncertainty. In her journey through layers of familial history, she discovers not just her grandmother’s story but also a sense of understanding of the struggles and triumphs that precede her.

The Emotional Return to Nottingham

Returning to her childhood home in Nottingham, Vicky reflects on her heritage, eager to uncover the truth about her maternal grandfather, Harry Millership. The bittersweet memories of family, particularly her grandmother, envelop her as she engages with her mother, Carol, about the stories and rumours that have circulated for years.

Vicky investigates the lineage of her grandmother, who was said to be the daughter of a prisoner of war (POW) from World War II. “It’s been quite an anxious thing to do because you don’t know what anyone’s going to tell you”, Vicky admits, recognising the emotional stakes involved. Her quest leads her to a trove of memories and artefacts left behind by her family, including a heartfelt letter from Harry to his wife, Hattie, written during his time stationed far from home.

Unearthing the Past

Vicky learns from her mother about Harry’s life as a coal miner in Yorkshire before the war, discovering that he had four children with Hattie. As Vicky examines a photo of Harry’s grave, she feels an intense connection to the man she never knew, yet through her investigation she begins to learn more about his life.

To delve deeper, Vicky visits a former mine to experience the harsh realities her great-grandfather faced. Accompanied by former miner Pete Wordsworth, she is introduced to the grim conditions that defined the life of a collier. As Vicky explores the depths of the mine, she learns more about the conditions that coal miners faced, and the crushing reality of labour practices.

The War Experience

Vicky’s search takes a fateful turn as she learns that Harry, after serving his time as a miner, joined the military and was called to active duty during World War II. Dr Yasmin Khan provides Vicky with more information about his military service, including a sobering account of Harry’s time as a POW following the fall of Singapore to Japanese forces.

Vicky studies Harry’s military records, unearthing the circumstances of his enlistment. She is struck by the fact that Harry went absent without leave during Christmas—a reflection of a family’s yearning amidst the chaos of war. “It would have been the last time he was with his family,”.

The Legacy of Horror

As Vicky travels to Taiwan—over 6,000 miles from her home—she approaches her ancestors’ history with trepidation. “I’m not the greatest at travelling too far. Especially alone. To a place that I’ve never been before. Where I am now, I can’t speak the language and the humidity, it’s really overwhelming.” she reflects on the gravity of her journey.

Vicky learns how Harry was sent to Singapore to protect British interests from Japan, but after just one week the British were forced to serrender to the Japanese forces. Troops were taken prisoner and transported to Taiwan aboard so-called “hell ships,“ literally packed into a sardine-like hold with fellow prisoners. Professor Aaron Moore describes the horrific conditions these men faced and the abject fear they endured. Hearing accounts of fellow POWs’ experiences solidifies Harry’s story in Vicky’s mind.

Delving into the gruesome realities that POWs faced, Vicky uncovers the brutal treatment dealt by their captors. It becomes evident that the harsh conditions of survival extended beyond the everyday challenges to encompass physical and psychological trauma. Vicky’s pain is palpable as she learns of the starvation, disease, and inhumane treatment. “My head’s all over the shop, and then I’m learning information that is just. Horrific. And it’s my great granddad. It’s my mum’s granddad. It’s too close.” she shares, while processing the suffering.

As she stands in the same spaces where her great-grandfather was imprisoned, Vicky feels an overwhelming sense of connection. The shared humanity behind the cold, historical facts leads her to a poignant realisation—Harry’s legacy is not just one of loss but of resilience. His determination to endure in the face of adversity becomes a point of pride for Vicky, intertwining her sense of self with his fight for survival.

Confronting the Truth

The journey culminates at the site of a former prisoners of war camp where Harry laboured in a copper mine—a place that is haunting reminder of a dark chapter in history. Vicky’s discovery of Harry’s death certificate reveals and details the tragic manner of his death—a fall in the mine.

Throughout this emotional detour into her family’s past, Vicky confronts her feelings about Nonna Iris’s life, who bore the heavy burden of losing her father when she was still a child. The emotional threads connecting them showcase how the impact of war stretches across generations, shaping identities that echo through family stories. “I realize now how much that would have affected her,” Vicky says, a newfound understanding washing over her as she processes her grandmother’s complex feelings about her own absent father.

Vicky’s heartfelt reflections on her family’s suffering remind us how history can shape narratives—not just in the grand tales of war, but in the contexts of love and loss that bind families together.

Embracing the Journey

As Vicky completes her journey through Taiwan, visiting memorials and reflecting on the sacrifices of her great-grandfather, she comes to terms with the weight of his loss. “The whole thing has just been the most incredible, disturbing and life-changing experience. There’s been a lot of it. I’ve not found it easy. You know, I hoped I’d sort of have that strength. That Millership strength. Yeah, I do. Somewhere. Maybe that’s because I’ve got Harry with me.”

At the heart of her exploration lies a renewed appreciation for her own family, a connection that deepens as she relates her experiences to her current life. The emotional journey reinforces not only her identity as an actress but also as a member of a family steeped in a rich history.

Returning home, Vicky carries with her a trove of knowledge and a strengthened bond to her family—an understanding of the threads that weave through both the past and the present. While the pain of loss is palpable, so too is a sense of triumph in uncovering the stories that define her lineage. With each new detail revealed and every truth uncovered, she walks away with a revitalised sense of pride, not just in her great-grandfather’s resilience but in her own role in continuing his legacy.

Vicky McClure’s experience on “Who Do You Think You Are?” is more than just an exploration of ancestry; it is a testament to the strength found in family ties and the importance of remembering those who came before us. As she leaves Taiwan behind, Vicky is not just a great-granddaughter of Harry Millichip; she is a keeper of his memory, ensuring a legacy of love and strength that will resonate for generations to come.