Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden was reduced to tears while uncovering a shocking family secret during her appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?. The professional dancer, 35, delved into her Welsh ancestry, investigating the mysterious death of her 14-year-old great-aunt in 1888 and discovering the heartbreaking truth behind her grandfather's adoption.
Investigating a 19th-Century Mystery
Amy's journey began with the death of her three-times great-aunt Elinor, who died at just 14 on a farm in 1888. The Caerphilly-born dancer traveled through Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, playing detective to uncover what really happened. "I really enjoyed playing detective but, gosh, what we unravelled there," Amy said. "I found myself really wanting to learn more, faster and quicker."
While the murder mystery remained open-ended, Amy discovered that a valley in Wales, Cwm Nell, is named after her relative. "It's so beautiful to be able to see the impact she made in her short life," she added.
Heartbreaking Family Secret
On her father's side, Amy made the most devastating discovery. Determined to find answers for her dad, who never knew about his own father Frank's birth family, Amy learned why her grandfather was the only one of six siblings to be unofficially adopted. Frank was adopted after his mother Louisa died of breast cancer aged 39, and his father Bill, a Welsh miner, struggled to support six children during the 1921 miners' strike.
"It was really shocking and emotional, but it was the answer to so many questions," Amy explained. "Before we struggled to understand why my grandad Frank, who was one of several siblings, was the only one given up. We could never really understand why."
Amy's father was "really shocked and quite upset" by the news. The journey also highlighted her great-grandfather's honorable war service and the harsh conditions faced by her working-class mining family. "When you're reading and seeing how it affected your own family it hits differently," she reflected.
Family Bonds Strengthened
For Amy, who is Welsh "through and through," the experience deepened her connection to her homeland. Her parents were so captivated that they retraced her steps, visiting every location from the programme. The episode also brought together family members who had never met, including Amy's second cousin. "It really brought families who had never met before together. It's been really heartwarming, really lovely," she said.
Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC One tonight at 9pm.
