Alison Steadman recalls finding out her father was adopted on DNA Journey

Alison Steadman has spoken of discovering her father had been adopted while appearing on DNA Journey, saying that her family was completely unaware of it before.

Speaking about the shocking discovery in Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain, the 76-year-old actress said she was “so upset” to learn that her grandmother was not a biological relative of hers.

Speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Alison admitted she doesn’t think her father knew he was adopted and revealed that none of her family knew about it.

When asked what discoveries she faced during ITV’s DNA Journey, Alison said: ‘My father was adopted, which I didn’t know, none of us in our family knew.’

Her Gavin and Stacey co-star Larry Lamb, who appeared with her on DNA Journey and joined her on the morning chat show, said, “It pushed her aside!”

Alison explained that her father was eight months old when he was adopted and said she was “so happy” that Larry, 75, was there to support her after the difficult news.

‘I do not think so’ [my father] knew. He was eight months old,” Alison continued.

Revelation: Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Tuesday about the shocking discovery, the 76-year-old actress said she was “so upset” to learn that her grandmother was not biologically related to her.

“I was so glad I had Larry with me, honestly, because it just made me so upset, really.”

The Life star said she found it “so disturbing” that her grandmother, aunt and uncle knew all about it, but didn’t tell her father or her immediate family.

She said: ‘My grandmother, my aunt, my uncle knew them all [and] they didn’t tell me, but they were lovely people, that’s the most important thing and i love them dearly.

“But to suddenly find out that my grandmother was not my grandmother as she was was quite shocking.”

‘I was so upset’: Alison appeared on the show with Larry Lamb and admitted she doesn’t think her father knew he was adopted and revealed that no one of her family knew

Alison, who is married to Mike Leigh, was born in Liverpool to Marjorie and George Percival Steadman, and was the youngest of three sisters.

George worked as a production controller for electronics company Plessey, and Alison attended Childwall Valley High School for Girls public high school, followed by East 15 Acting School.

Larry went on to say that he also found out his mother had been adopted in a similar family discovery, but said it was less of a shock to him than it was to Alison.

“I had discovered the same sort of thing – my mother was adopted,” he explained.

“And there was a whole bunch of things that came out of that, so I kind of got where Alison was. Mine was a little easier to accept, but Ally’s was a big shake of the keystone.’

Difficult: Her Gavin and Stacey co-star Larry Lamb, who appeared with her on DNA Journey and joined her on the morning chat show, said: ‘It knocked her aside’

Unaware: The Life star said she found it “so disturbing” that her grandmother, aunt and uncle knew all about it, but didn’t tell her father or her immediate family

The pair also dismissed claims that there would be an upcoming Gavin and Stacey Christmas special this year.

“I wouldn’t hold your breath — especially not this Christmas,” said Larry, who plays Mick on the series.

James Corden’s return to the UK has sparked speculation that he will once again team up with Ruth Jones to bring back Gavin and Stacey, which ended in 2010.

A record-breaking Christmas special in 2019 made people hope for a new series, especially considering what happened at the end.

oh dear! The pair (pictured on the show with Matthew Horne) also dismissed claims that there would be an upcoming Gavin and Stacey Christmas special this year.

But Alison, who stars as Pam, recently said it’s unlikely viewers will see the cast reunited.

She said, ‘I wouldn’t know. Frankly, it’s the truth. I doubt it will go again, but that’s what I said in the nine year gap [between the sitcom finale and the Christmas special] and I was wrong.’

Gavin and Stacey ran three series between 2007 and 2010 before returning for the Christmas special – the most watched comedy in 17 years – in 2019.

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Cast: Gavin and Stacey ran three series between 2007 and 2010 before returning for the Christmas special – the most watched comedy in 17 years – in 2019 (from LR: Rob Wilfort, Joanna Page, Mat, James Corden, Ruth Jones, Alison, Melanie Walters, Rob Brydon, Larry)