EastEnders legend Ross Kemp is no stranger to tough situations, but nothing prepared him for the emotional revelations he uncovered during his appearance on BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are?
The 60-year-old actor and documentary maker set out to explore his family roots, hoping for a heartwarming journey through the seafaring history of his ancestors. Instead, Ross was faced with a dark and painful chapter — discovering that his great-uncle, Albert Chalmers, had been a violent alcoholic, blacklisted from every pub in Britain under the 1902 Licensing Act.
Albert, who grew up with Ross’s great-grandfather Arthur — known affectionately as “Pop” — was raised in a Portsmouth pub alongside ten siblings. Initially, Ross pictured a “Disney-style” family life not unlike his fictional Queen Vic days as Grant Mitchell. However, the reality was far more disturbing.
Digging into local records, Ross learned that Albert had a violent history, including an incident where he threatened to decapitate his own mother with a table knife during a drunken rampage. Speaking about the chilling discovery, Ross reflected, “He was a bit of a wrong ‘un.”
Albert’s life spiraled into repeated arrests, prison sentences, and ultimately, time spent in an inebriate reformatory — a grim institution that attempted to “cure” alcoholism by stripping patients of access to alcohol, without offering any real medical support. Within a year, Albert was transferred to a psychiatric hospital, highlighting the long-standing link between addiction and mental health struggles that still persist today.
“It’s dreadful to think that in four generations, very little has changed,” Ross said, drawing parallels with modern-day struggles in UK prisons he has visited through his documentary work.
Despite Albert’s dark path, Ross couldn’t help but feel sympathy for his ancestor. Looking at a rare photo of Albert, he said sadly, “There was a life there… he wasn’t remembered by anyone.”
A Proud Maritime Heritage
Ross also uncovered the more inspiring tale of his great-grandfather Pop, born in 1892. Pop lived a vastly different life from his troubled brother, serving proudly in the merchant navy before becoming a quartermaster during the First World War.
One family story — long whispered through the generations — claimed that Pop was shipwrecked. Ross was able to confirm the rumour: in 1943, Pop was aboard the Duchess of York when it was bombed while en route to Algeria. Despite the ship sinking and many lives lost, Pop survived and was rescued, eventually reaching Casablanca.
Ross, a qualified diver himself, was deeply moved by imagining Pop’s terrifying ordeal. “I’ve been lost at sea twice when diving, and even that was frightening. What Pop went through — with the oil, the flames, and the bodies in the water — must have been horrific,” he said tearfully.
A Journey of Mixed Emotions
Ross’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? offers a raw, powerful look at the unvarnished truth behind family legends. From the warmth and resilience of Pop to the sadness and tragedy of Albert, it’s a reminder that every family tree holds both pride and pain.
Reflecting on the journey, Ross said, “This is not what I was expecting. I thought they all lived in the pub and it was all slightly Disney. The reality is so much harder. But I’m proud to learn about them both.”
Who Do You Think You Are? featuring Ross Kemp airs Tuesday, 6 May at 9pm on BBC1.
