Amy Dowden struggled to hold back tears during an appearance on BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? after uncovering a heartbreaking family secret. The Strictly Come Dancing star discovered that a 13-year-old family member had been murdered, prompting her to delve deeper into the tragedy.
In the episode, Amy set out to learn more about her father's side of the family, having discovered that her grandfather was adopted. She learned that her great-grandmother Louisa died in 1921 at the age of 39 from breast cancer—the same disease Amy herself battled.
“Oh my goodness,” Amy said, visibly emotional. “That's made me a little bit emotional.” She added, “She was only in her 30s. I wonder if there's a link between her and me.” Amy also noted that her mother had breast cancer, making the discovery particularly poignant.
Amy reflected on the lack of treatment available in Louisa's time: “Knowing what she went through is horrible, but I'm lucky, I'm still here; it took her life, so it's a bit raw.” She also expressed sympathy for Louisa's six children, including her grandfather Frank, who was informally adopted after his mother's death.
Amy Dowden’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? airs on Tuesday 2 June at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
