Ed Balls Learns Of Workhouse Dilemma | Who Do You Think You Are

A dismayed Ed learns that his great-great-great grandfather may have been involved in some cruel treatment at a Kent workhouse.

Ed Balls, former Labour politician, sequinned Strictly dancer and TV presenter, grew up in a family that wanted to make the world a better place. His mother Carolyn’s dementia means she can’t share their family history with him, so he sets out to discover what kind of characters his ancestors were. Rumours on his paternal side about a link to Nelson’s ship HMS Victory lead Ed to Portsmouth and the story of his great-great-great-grandfather William Dunbar, an assistant surgeon. But as he unravels Dunbar’s medical career, he unearths a dark history of abuse and horror at a Kent workhouse. On his mother Carolyn’s side, he feels a deep connection with Christopher Green, an agricultural labourer put on trial at Norwich Castle after he stood up to defend his livelihood and community.

In each episode, one of Britain's best-loved celebrities traces their family tree to reveal the surprising, extraordinary and often moving stories of their ancestors.

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[flannerymonaghan-morris]

There was one story that a commenter shared on a WDYTYA video in regards to his own experience with workhouses with his relatives…My gran’s sister was put in the work house by my gran. Gran got a job in service, but no room for Aunty's Mary, so into the workhouse she went. When gran finally got Mary out of " care" she was ruined, unable to have any form of conversation. It affected my gran, then my mum. Gran would tell me about "Going on the parish" with real fear, even into her old age. RIP GRAN AND AUNTIE MARY, STILL LOVE YOU BOTH.

Good god. I shudder to think what happened to that poor woman that caused her to become an empty shell robbed of the ability to communicate.

[straycatsean]

wait this isn't the dude from teenage filmstars