Alison Steadman recalls finding out her father was adopted on DNA Journey

Alison Steadman has spoken about finding out her father was adopted while appearing on DNA Journey, saying her family were completely unaware before.

The actress, 76, spoke about the shocking discovery on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain, saying she was ‘so upset’ to learn her grandmother wasn’t biologically related to her.

Speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Alison admitted that she doesn’t think her father knew he was adopted and revealed none of her family were aware. 

When asked what discoveries she was faced with on ITV’s DNA Journey, Alison said: ‘My father was adopted, which I didn’t know, none of us knew in our family.’

Her Gavin And Stacey co-star Larry Lamb, who appeared on DNA Journey with her and joined her on the morning chat show, said: ‘It knocked her sideways!’

Alison explained that her father was eight months old when he was adopted and said she was ‘so glad’ Larry, 75, was there to support her after getting the difficult news. 

‘I don’t think [my father] knew. He was eight months old,’ Alison continued.

‘I was so glad that I had Larry with me honestly because I was just so upset by it, I really was.’

The Life star said she found it ‘so upsetting’ that her grandmother, aunt and uncle all knew but didn’t tell her father or any of her close family. 

She said: ‘My grandmother, my aunt, my uncle they all knew [and] they didn’t tell me, but they were lovely people that’s the main thing and I love them to bits. 

‘But to find out suddenly that my grandma wasn’t my grandma as it was, was quite upsetting.’

Alison, who is married to Mike Leigh, was born in Liverpool to Marjorie and George Percival Steadman, and was the youngest of three sisters.

George worked as a production controller for electronics company Plessey and Alison went to school at state grammar school Childwall Valley High School for Girls, followed by East 15 Acting School.

Larry went on to share that he also found out that his mother was adopted in a similar family discovery, but said it was less of a shock to him than Alison.

‘I’d found out the same sort of thing – my mother was adopted,’ he explained.

‘And there was a whole chain of things that sprang off that, so I kind of got where Alison was. Mine was kind of easier to accept but Ally’s, this was a big shaking of the keystone.’

The pair also dismissed claims that there would be an upcoming Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey this year.

‘I wouldn’t hold your breath – and certainly not this Christmas,’ Larry, who plays Mick on the series, said.

James Corden’s move back to the UK has fuelled speculation that he will once again team up with Ruth Jones to bring back Gavin and Stacey, which ended in 2010.

A record-breaking Christmas special in 2019 had people hoping for a new series, especially given what happened at the end.   

But Alison, who stars as Pam, recently said it’s unlikely viewers will see the cast reunite.

She said: ‘I wouldn’t know. Honestly, it’s the truth. I doubt it’ll go again but that’s what I said in the nine-year gap [between the sitcom finale and the Christmas special] and I was wrong.’

Gavin and Stacey ran for three series between 2007 and 2010 before returning for Christmas special – the most watched comedy in 17 years – in 2019. 

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV & ITV Hub.