Obviously Melanie Chisholm, aka Mel C, and Who Do You Think You Are? were made for each other -
- or at least made for the obvious references to the Spice Girls song of the same name. 😉
Mel C's family were definitely unique - and showed an individual spirit that helped them move beyond the expectations of their stations in life.
From money-lending in Liverpool - kind of a slightly-more above-board loan shark service - to moving into insurance in the early days of the industry, Mel's family certainly weren't content to simply sit still.
This episode covered a wide-range of stories, including the history of the Irish potato famine, which led Mel's ancestors to emigrate to Liverpool in hopes of a better life.
Rose Ayling-Ellis' episode, which aired last Thursday, carried on the themes of independence and survival.
Actress and presenter Rose recently broke new ground in becoming the first deaf person to ever present a live TV sports broadcast.
Rose's episode saw her discover that her great-great-grandfather, James Wellend, had lost a hand due to an accident at work on the railways, at the age of 19.
The accident was pretty horrific, involving a reminder of just how big trains are, and how big the wheel of a steam locomotive can be. Ouch. Just... ouch.
As well as learning about James and his trouble with supporting his growing family - eventually ending up with 17 (!) children - Rose learned about a publican ancestor, and the Italian roots of her family.
Rose - whose Eastenders character tended bar in the Queen Vic - was clearly thrilled by both elements of her family's story.
Rose's personality really shone through in this episode - and made it very much worth the watch.
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