The tragic life of Gemma Collins’ ‘schizophrenic’ grandmother was uncovered when she appeared in an emotional episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on Thursday.
The former TOWIE star, 43, told the story of her mother Joan’s biological mother, who was forced to hand her over to a foster family.
Joan had lived most of her life thinking that her mother – also called Joan – had abandoned her.
But Gemma and the show’s team discovered she may have been forced to give up her daughter amid misdiagnosed mental health issues.
Gemma’s grandmother was in and out of psychiatric hospitals from the age of 13 and was eventually diagnosed as chronic schizophrenic, something that is now disputed.
The tragic life of Gemma Collins’ ‘schizophrenic’ grandmother was uncovered when she appeared on an emotional episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on thursday
The former TOWIE star, 43, told the story of her mother Joan’s biological mother, who was forced to hand her over to a foster family.
An expert then said that when she became pregnant as a teenager out of wedlock, she may have been told to give up Joan and was forced to limit her contact with her son because of her “mental health issues.”
Joan broke down when talking about feeling abandoned and unloved as a child, saying: “You’re always left wondering.” My host family was my family. I entered foster care when I was two weeks old.
When Joan and Gemma read their foster statement, they both burst into tears and said: ‘This is a lot. “It’s a huge mix of emotions.”
Joan herself later told how she was sent to a children’s home at age 13 for skipping school and cried again as she told how she was bullied there.
Through tears she said: ‘I came in with my suitcase, it brought everything and the other children began to take off all my clothes. It felt like a prison. After that I came home.’
Of her biological mother, Joan added: ‘She came to meet me, my real mother, once. We had a cup of tea and then she said goodbye to her. I only saw her three times.
Viewers wrote about X amid the emotional scenes: “Not knowing your family history must be very difficult, bless you.” #WDTYYA.’,
‘That’s so sad #wdytya.’,
Joan had lived most of her life thinking that her mother – also called Joan – had abandoned her.
Joan broke down when talking about feeling abandoned and unloved as a child, saying: “You’re always left wondering.”
But Gemma and the show’s team discovered she may have been forced to give up her daughter amid misdiagnosed mental health issues.
Viewers wrote about X amid the emotional scenes: “Not knowing your family history must be very difficult, bless you.” #WDTYYA’
When Joan and Gemma read their foster statement, they both burst into tears and said: ‘This is a lot. It’s a huge mix of emotions.’
Joan herself later told how she was sent to a children’s home at age 13 for skipping class and cried again as she told how she was bullied there.
‘God, poor Gemma’s mom #wdytya.’,
At the start of the episode, Gemma said: ‘My mum was fostered. Why did they leave her in the hospital? Why didn’t they try to come back for her? She never talks about it. I just think it’s too painful for her to go there.
The clip ends with Gemma saying: “It’ll be nice to know where my mum is from.” And she just put all the pieces together.
The BBC hit is a genealogy series in which well-known people trace their family tree.
The show has been airing since 2004 and series 21 began in August with actress Vicky McClure.
Every episode of Who Do You Think You Are? focuses on a British celebrity.
Throughout its two decades of history, Who Do You Think You Are? has traced the family history of Adil Ray, Kate Winslet, Jeremy Clarkson, Barbara Windsor, Stephen Fry, JK Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe and many more.
At the start of the episode, Gemma said: ‘My mum was fostered. Why did they leave her in the hospital? Why didn’t they try to go back for her?
Gemma has already shared her joy at the possibility of being related to serial killer Jack The Ripper.
The clip ends with Gemma saying: “It’ll be nice to know where my mum is from.” And she just puts all the pieces together.
Gemma has already shared her joy at the possibility of being related to serial killer Jack The Ripper.
Jack, who has never been identified, is Britain’s most famous serial killer: he murdered five women and terrorized London in 1888, but was never caught.
And Gemma believes she has discovered Jack the Ripper’s identity and is convinced she is related to him.
I was sold on the link about Who Do You Think You Are? when she discovers that she has ancestors who lived in Dorset Street, East London, where Jack left some of the mutilated corpses of his victims.
