Vicky McClure's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' Journey: A Harrowing but Life-Changing Look at Her Family's Past

The BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? returned for its landmark 20th anniversary series on Thursday, August 15, and the premiere episode delivered one of the most emotionally charged discoveries in the show’s history. Starring Vicky McClure — the beloved actress best known for her powerhouse performances in Line of Duty and Trigger Point — the episode peeled back layers of family secrets that left the Nottingham-born star visibly shaken, but ultimately filled with a profound sense of pride.

According to the details documented in Screenshot (550).png, McClure embarked on a deeply personal investigation into two harrowing family stories: the abandonment of her beloved paternal grandmother, Nonna Jean, and the tragic death of her great-grandfather, Harry Millership, during World War II. What she uncovered was a tale of resilience, loss, and a family’s unbreakable strength.

A Difficult Upbringing

McClure always cherished the memory of her late paternal grandmother, Nonna Jean — a woman she describes as “the jolliest person I know.” But Jean’s early life was anything but joyful. She was given up as a baby and raised by foster parents who treated her cruelly. The question of why had haunted the McClure family for decades.

“I don’t like the unknown, so I was like, ‘What have I done?’ ” McClure admits about signing up for the show. “You don’t know what anyone’s going to tell you.”

Traveling to Jean’s birthplace in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, McClure dug into parish records and discovered that her great-grandmother Ruby — known as Winnie — already had three older children when she gave birth to Jean in 1925. Ruby’s husband, Thomas Compton, a ship’s steward, was not Jean’s biological father. The evidence suggests that Thomas could not accept raising another man’s child, and the family had no room in their cramped home.

“Thomas maybe couldn’t bring up a child that wasn’t his. And they didn’t have space. So the most reasonable thing would be to give Nonna Jean away. That breaks my heart,” McClure shares. “But I think Winnie assumed she was putting her into good hands.”

The revelation brought McClure a bittersweet closure. “Nonna had such a bad start, so I think she tried to break that chain. She was so loved. I don’t know anyone as jolly as her. She was so into family, so all about love, so happy. I feel a beautiful connection to her, and I’m sure she’d be pleased we did this. That’s going to leave me and my family with peace.”

Wartime Tragedy

The second chapter of McClure’s journey took her to even darker territory: the fate of her maternal great-grandfather, Harry Millership. A coal miner from Yorkshire, Harry lived a grueling life — he began working in the mines at age 14, according to the 1921 census. After 18 years underground, he enlisted in the British Army during World War II and was deployed to Southeast Asia in 1941.

When the Japanese captured Singapore, Harry became a prisoner of war and was shipped to Taiwan — then called Formosa — where he was forced to work in a copper mine under brutal conditions. McClure traveled to Taiwan herself, standing in the very mine where Harry labored, and learned the horrific details of his treatment.

“He must have been petrified,” she says. “One account said they were packed ‘like old boots in a cupboard’ on the boat to Taiwan. At every single point, they were tortured. There was no mercy.”

Harry died at just 35 years old from a fall in the mine, leaving behind five children — including McClure’s grandmother Iris. The actress was overwhelmed by the connection she felt at the site. “For all the action-packed shows I do and the fact I seem hard as nails, I couldn’t be further from that. Standing in that mine, there was an overwhelming feeling of connection. I know he’s been there. I’m extremely proud to be his great-granddaughter.”

A Greater Understanding

The discoveries also reshaped McClure’s relationship with her maternal grandmother, Iris — a woman she admits she clashed with as a child. “Nonna Iris was a hard character. I didn’t have the closest relationship with her because I was probably an annoyingly happy kid,” McClure reflects. “But she was unhappy, and I would be if this had happened to my dad. Maybe this is why she always had a photo of Harry’s grave — it was a heavy burden on her.”

Now, with the gaps in her family history filled, McClure feels stronger ties than ever. “The whole thing has been the most incredible, disturbing, life-changing experience. A lot I haven’t found easy, but I hoped I’d have that Millership strength, and I do somewhere!”

McClure’s career — from the explosive action of Trigger Point to the relentless tension of Line of Duty — has often showcased steely characters. But in this deeply personal episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, she proved that true strength lies in confronting the most painful parts of our past. The 20th anniversary series premiered on BBC One at 9 p.m. on August 15 and is also available on BBC iPlayer.

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