Vicky McClure discovers her great-grandfather’s ‘horrific’ WWII story
Vicky McClure is set to discover the tragic past ordeals of her great-grandfather, who was interned as a Japanese prisoner of war in Taiwan, during WWII.
The actress will retrace her relative’s steps on BBC‘s genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? tomorrow evening.
In a clip shared ahead of the programme, which airs on Thursday at 9pm, the Line of Duty and Trigger Point star, 41, was openly emotional as she contemplated her ancestor’s Harry Millership’s ‘horrific’ experience.
Reflecting on her job in the spotlight, Vicky explained that she has ‘a very vivid imagination’, adding that she’s ‘battling with it’ while exploring Harry’s struggle 6,000 miles from home.
‘My head’s all over the shop and I’m learning information that is just horrific, and it’s my great grandad, it’s my mum’s grandad – it’s too close,’ she confessed.
Actor Vicky McClure, 41, journeys 6,000 miles to Taiwan to learn more about her great-grandfather Harry Millership’s experience as a Japanese POW
Vicky looked visibly strained as she talked to to the camera about her gut-wrenching family history.
During the episode, she discovered the awful reality of the journey from Singapore – where Harry’s regiment had been posted in 1941 – to the Taiwanese POW camp where he was interned after the Japanese attacked on 8 December.
Vicky learned that Harry would have been taken in an airless hold with very little in the way of supplies and, upon arrival at the POW camp, forced to work in a copper mine.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings earlier this year, the BAFTA Award-winning actor spoke about another family member who served in WWII for an ITV documentary.
Vicky’s grandfather Ralph McLure, 97, explained how he narrowly escaped death when his landing craft was hit by enemy fire during the invasion of Normandy.
He was just 17 when he signed up to serve in the Royal Navy and was deployed as a signaler on a landing raft tank on that historic day.
Sharing the respect she felt for her grandfather and reflecting on the importance of remembering D-Day, Vicky said: ‘It is so important to keep this history really close and make sure the kids know about it.
‘It’s so important that people like my grandad are able to recall it and I’m sure there are many veterans who felt unable or didn’t want to do that.
‘So any kind of information we can have that comes in about that history is important.’
Harry was interned in a Taiwanese POW camp after the Japanese attached his regiment in Singapore on 8 December 1941
Vicky, pictured with her WWII veteran grandfather Ralph McClure, was vocal in an ITV documentary about the importance of remembering what happened on D-Day
Spice Girl Melanie C will discover more about her roots in the new series of Who do you think you are?
The Line Of Duty star is just one of many famous faces set to take part in the upcoming series of Who do you think you are?.
During its two-decade history, the show has already helped the likes of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas and actor Sheridan Smith discover their roots.
This new series will feature comedian Paddy McGuinness, athlete Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Spice Girl Melanie C.
Liverpool-born Melanie C will discover that her family history contains political activism.
She will also learn that her family survived the Great Famine in Ireland.
Other celebrities who have signed up include TOWIE star Gemma Collins, Troublemaker singer Olly Murs and former EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Executive producer Colette Flight said: ‘The celebrities have been moved to tears, laughter, anger and joy learning about their ancestors’ lives.’
Who Do You Think You Are? airs every Thursday at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
