The Only Way Is Essex icon Gemma Collins was stunned to uncover a shocking twist in her family tree on the ‘s Who Do You Think You Are.
The show has been unravelling prominent figures’ family histories since 2004, with previous stars to appear on the show including comedian Katherine Ryan, musician Olly Murs, and Strictly star Rose Ayling-Ellis across 21 seasons.
Gemma was the latest to take the plunge into her past, with the star appearing in Series 21, Episode 7. While she shared that she already knew a lot about her father’s side of the family, she confessed that she remained in the dark about her mother Joan’s side.
The truth emerged as they filmed the episode, detailing how Joan, adopted as an infant, was not abandoned as once thought. Instead, authorities had likely separated her from her mother.
Reflecting on the heart-wrenching discoveries about her mum’s upbringing, Gemma said: “It was very overwhelming, very, very bizarre, to find out all this stuff we’ve not known for so long. It’s bittersweet and amazing. It’s been very cathartic putting my mum’s mind at rest about so much stuff that was unanswered for her.”
There were plenty of revelations during the episode (Image: BBC)
Don’t miss…
Adding an even more astonishing chapter to her family story, viewers were gripped by the bombshell that Gemma Collins shares a connection with infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper, reports .
During the programme, experts revealed a spine-chilling connection involving Gemma’s ancestor, William Williams. William lived on Dorset Street in East London with his wife and three children, the same street Ripper victim Annie Chapman lived prior to her murder 1888 and where the body of Mary Jane Kelly was found two months later.
Gemma discovered a family connection to Jack the Ripper (Image: BBC)
Gemma’s family were recorded as living there in 1900, around the time of the Ripper’s reign of terror, prompting wild speculation that she could be related to the elusive serial killer.
A disturbed Gemma reflected: “No-one knows who the Ripper was, but we lived next door to where a lot of his victims were being killed You just don’t know.”
She continued: “I think I was related to him… It’s just bizarre, isn’t it? Could it be my family? Could he be alluded to be my family?”.