New Tricks actress Tamzin Outhwaite will be the next celebrity to discover her family history on Who Do You Think You Are? tomorrow night. Tamzin has gained fame for playing London characters and her parents are from London’s East End. However, she is also aware that she has Italian roots.
“I do know that there is definitely an Italian influence within the family. I’d like to get much more in touch with my Italian roots”, said Tamzin.
The former EastEnders actress remembers her Grandfather Remo but knows little about his family. The Who Do You Think You Are? team uncovers the genuine rags-to-riches story of her great-grandfather Adelmo. Although he started with nothing, Adelmo went on to become a successful business owner and ice cream maker. There was a time when he could not pay for the funeral of one of his sons. The community came together to pay for the funeral and this kindness was never forgotten by her great-grandfather. Later in life Adelmo bought some land and turned it into a playing field for the community who had been so kind to him in his hour of need.
Tamzin is shocked to learn that during World War Two things were not easy for the Italian community and that they often faced prejudice. Adelmo and his eldest son, Peter, were interned at a camp on the Isle of Man in 1940. Having spent twenty years raising a family in the UK, he found himself labeled as a fascist simply because he was Italian.
“My great-grandfather and great-uncle would have been made to feel like criminals. They made ice cream. Goodness me”, said Tamzin.
Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC1 this Thursday at 9pm. Join us on Twitter and Facebook to share your thoughts or questions.
Image courtesy of Karen Ellot. Flickr/creative commons.