September 20th 2024.
Olly Murs' emotional journey on the show Who Do You Think You Are has been praised as the best episode yet. Viewers were moved to tears as they watched the singer uncover his great-grandmother's heartbreaking story from the war.
At 40 years old, Olly rose to fame after competing on the sixth season of The X Factor in 2009 and has since become a chart-topping artist in the UK with hits like "Heart Skips A Beat" and "Troublemaker." But on a recent episode of the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are, Olly took a deep dive into his family history and uncovered some wild and emotional stories that led to where he is today.
During the episode, Olly learned about his Latvian roots and traveled to Riga to discover more about his paternal great-grandparents who were circus performers. He was particularly interested in learning about his great-grandmother, Veronika Jankovska, whom his grandfather had last seen when he was just 12 years old.
As he explored the Salamonska Circus building, Olly discovered that his great-grandfather, Eduards, had an affair with Veronika despite being married to his wife, Katrine. This led to Veronika being forced to leave her child, Eduards Jr., during World War Two and eventually being imprisoned in a labor camp for eight years. She never saw her son again and passed away in 1988, buried in an unmarked grave that Olly visited.
Reflecting on the impact of the war on his family, Olly said, "I think Veronika made a very bold decision that day, leaving her son and knowing that she might never see him again. I wish my grandad could have understood his mum's decisions." He added, "I'm happy that I'm able to give my dad some answers on her life. Bless my great-grandmother, she had such sad moments in her life. I hope that she's at peace now."
The heartbreaking story of estrangement and war not only moved Olly, but also viewers at home. Many took to social media to share their emotional reactions to the episode and praise Olly for sharing his family's story.
Aside from his emotional journey on the show, Olly has also been adjusting to becoming a father for the first time. He welcomed his daughter, Madison, with his wife Amelia in April 2024 and has been balancing being a new dad with his music career. He opened up about the challenges of being away from his family while on tour with Take That, but also expressed his joy and gratitude at being a father.
In a recent interview, Olly also opened up about his estranged relationship with his twin brother, Ben. Despite the difficulties, he remains grateful for his family and the support they have given him throughout his life.
The episode of Who Do You Think You Are featuring Olly Murs is airing on Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One.
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