Kevin Whately discovered his family background on Who Do You Think You Are in 2009 (Image: Getty)
star Kevin Whately wasn’t impressed with some of his family history following an appearance on the genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are In 2009.
The acclaimed actor, who was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list, said it was a “huge relief” not to have inherited anything from his “capitalist” ancestors which included slave traders.
“It’s a surreal feeling to know you’re connected to these people. I’m a country boy from the North Tyne Valley and I always will be.
“I considered myself a leftie, then I found capitalists everywhere. Thankfully, none of the money which was made during that time came down to me, which was a huge relief.
“I think if I was sitting in a stately home somewhere because of the money my ancestors made, I’d be feeling very uneasy,” he said on the show after learning some of the elements of his familiy’s past.
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Kevin Whately appeared on Who Do you Think You Are in 2009 (Image: BBC)
Delving into his ancestry he discovered his direct ancestor, Robert Thompson, shared a monopoly on the lucrative tobacco trade from Virginia in 1632.
To Kevin’s great discomfort, he also learned that Robert and the rest of the Thompsons were heavily involved in the slave trade.
He further learned Nonsuch Mansion, stately home in Sutton, was built partly on the proceeds of his family’s slave trading.
Gerald Smith, chairman of the Friends of Nonsuch, also took part in the programme, which was seen by more than six million people and admitted Kevin was “embarrassed” to learn about his family’s slave trade connection.
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Kevin Whately starred with Laurence Fox in the Inspector Morse spin off Lewis (Image: Getty)
“The programme’s researchers were very efficient and had done a great deal of work and we as the friends had collected a lot of information over the last 18 years and it all came together.
“Kevin Whately genuinely didn’t know about his history. He was really surprised, not to say embarrassed about his family’s connection with the slave trade,” he told .
His family sold Nonsuch to another family called the Farmers at the end of the 18th century, who were also linked to slavery before earning another fortune through the cotton trade.
Reflecting on the findings at the end of the show Kevin concluded: “It’s been really overwhelming. It’s a very strange, surreal feeling knowing that you’re connected by blood to these people.”