
Ross Kemp's horror over relative who 'threatened to cut off mum's head with kitchen knife'
EastEnders hard man Ross Kemp tells of his sadness over the 'dreadful' discovery his great uncle was a violent alcoholic who was blacklisted from British pubs - and never spoken about by his family.
For BBC1 's Who Do You Think You Are? the actor turned TV presenter finds that Albert Chalmers was brought up in a Portsmouth pub alongside his ten siblings, who included Ross's great grandfather Arthur, nicknamed Pop. He imagines that the family might have had a 'Disney-style' existence, perhaps similar to his alter ego Grant Mitchell, who spent most of his time in The Queen Vic alongside his mother Peggy, played by the late Barbara Windsor.
But while Ross's great grandfather Arthur was nicknamed Pop after Popeye, because of his successful life on the high seas, his great uncle Albert's time in the navy didn't end well after he was discharged.
The actor discovers he spent years gathering court charges for being drunk and violent, with one report revealing he threatened to decapitate his own mother. Reading from the story in the local paper at the time, Ross says: 'It was alleged he threatened to cut his mother's head off, and everyone else in the house, at the same time chasing after her with a table knife.'
Calling him "a bit of a wrong 'un", Ross learns that his behaviour not only led to several spells in prison, but also to him being barred from every pub in the land after he was named on the 'blacklist' of the 1902 Licensing Act.
The 60-year-old dad of four says that the story relates to his long-running role in EastEnders. 'It doesn't matter whether I'm in Afghanistan or Columbia, I'm always going to be Grant Mitchell in a leather jacket going 'get outta my pub!'
'One story in the family, which I think has been very conveniently forgotten, is about Pop's brother, my great uncle Albert, who was a bad man. A blacklister.' After learning more about his ancestor he ends up feeling some sympathy for Albert, who was sent to the Inebriate Reformatory for three years to try and cure his out-of-control drinking. The facility, contained within a prison in Warwick, aimed to reform inmates with no medical treatment other than denying them access to booze.
It didn't work and, just one year into his term in 1914, Albert was moved to a psychiatric hospital back in Portsmouth, at the age of 31. Ross, who has made award-winning documentaries, says the same problems are still commonplace today. 'Having been to prisons in the UK recently, I see mental health issues and I see people with addiction issues. It's dreadful to think that in four generations, very little has changed,' he says sadly.
Looking at a photograph of his troubled ancestor, he adds: 'I feel very sorry for him. I look at the picture and think 'there was a life there'. And he wasn't remembered by anyone, even by his own brother. My great grandfather never mentioned him to his daughters and it was definitely not handed down to my mum and certainly wasn't handed down to me.
'Albert's life was never really mentioned in the family history. This is not what I was expecting. I thought they all lived in the pub and it was all slightly Disney. The reality is my great uncle was an alcoholic with mental health issues and there is nothing romantic or sweet or sugar-coated about that.'
Ross says he can relate to both Pop, born in 1892, and older brother Albert, born a decade earlier, being in the Navy because he has always loved the sea. Brought up by his detective dad John and hairdresser mum Jean in Essex, Ross said that he and his brother Darren were taken on many trips around Europe in the early 1970s before it became popular. 'We travelled at an early age when a lot of people weren't doing that. I've always loved being in water. I strongly suspect that there is a connection to the ocean and to travel is in my DNA,' he says, before setting out on his journey of discovery.
In the programme he learns that his maternal great grandfather Pop transferred from the merchant navy to become an ordinary seaman at the start of WWI, quickly rising to become a quartermaster by the age of 22.
When the actor wonders if there is any truth to the family story that he was later shipwrecked, he finds out that in 1943 Pop's troop carrier, the Duchess of York, was bombed while en route to Algeria, 300 miles off the coast of Portugal. Dozens of men lost their lives when the ship sank, but Pop was one of the lucky ones, rescued and taken to the Allied-controlled port of Casablanca 700 miles away.
Ross, who is a qualified diver, becomes tearful as he imagines what his ancestor went through that day, saying: "I've been on my own in the water for a period of time and it's frightening – you start to hallucinate. I've been lost at sea twice when I was diving - of course, it's nothing like what Pop would have gone through, with the horrors of oil in the water, flames, and dead men floating around you.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
37 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones split as he returns to dating app 'keen to meet other women'
Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones have 'ended their rumoured romance' after the former Blue Peter presenter was 'spotted on a popular dating app' Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton appear to have called it 'quits' on their rumoured romance, as Gethin has reportedly returned to a dating app. The popular BBC presenters have shared a close friendship for some time, which was believed to have blossomed into something more after they were seen leaving the BAFTAs together in May. While they never officially confirmed a relationship, the pair had been spotted spending time together away from work, including a recent spa day at a country club. But it seems the brief romance has fizzled out as Gethin has reportedly been spotted on celebrity app Raya while he enjoys a trip to Australia, where he's been watching the British and Irish Lions' tour with a group of mates, the Mirror reports. It comes days after a further hint that things were heating up between the pair when Gethin, 47, took to his Instagram stories to publicly wish Helen happy birthday as she turned 42 earlier this month. "Gethin is on the prowl Down Under which puts the nail in the coffin for his romance with Helen," a source told Mail Online. "He's there with pals but keen to meet other women. "There is no way Helen would stand for that if they were together and he has far too much respect for her to even go behind her back. Despite having an increasingly close connection it's cooled down significantly which is gutting for fans who really wanted them to be together." The pair have both endured heartbreak in recent years. Gethin's engagement to Katherine Jenkins was called off in 2011 and he's experienced a series of short relationships since. Meanwhile Helen separated from ex-husband Richie Myler - with whom she shares three children - back in 2022. Helen and Leeds Rhinos rugby player Richie, 35, had been married for eight years and had just welcomed their third child, Elsie, when they parted ways. He now has two more children with Stephanie Thirkhill, also 35, whose millionaire father Andrew Thirkill is the president of Richie's rugby club. Shocking her followers at the time, Helen revealed the devastating news of her split on Instagram as she shared: "Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children." While writing her 2023 autobiography, In My Stride, Helen opened up about the heartbreak of her unexpected separation. She shared candid reflections on the emotional toll it took, admitting that the breakup came as a shock and wasn't something she had ever seen coming. She penned: "I was in shock. I know that following break-ups, people often say they didn't see it coming and it sounds like a cliché, but that was me."


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Melania Trump's fashion favorites: First lady's most and LEAST expensive wardrobe pieces revealed
Long before she became the First Lady, Melania Trump was known around New York for her timeless style - and it's only evolved since she's stepped into the White House. When she first married Donald Trump, she seemed to have a penchant for silky, colorful dresses as she attended some of Manhattan's most exclusive events, like the short, slinky, bright pink dress she Breast Cancer Research Foundation's hot pink party in 2005. But now, times have changed, and Melania seems to be all business, donning elegant dresses and pantsuits, as well as expensive yet elevated accessories. As the First Lady, 55, she's been known to be a fan of certain designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen and Ralph Lauren. During President Trump's inauguration into his first term in 2017, she donned a powder blue, cashmere dress with a wrap overcoat and matching gloves made by Ralph Lauren. In 2016, she spoke to Elle Magazine about the various challenges of dressing for a campaign, telling the outlet over email that she doesn't find it to be hard at all. 'I don't find it to be challenging,' she said at the time. 'I style myself and choose what to wear based on what I feel good in it.' Now, FEMAIL has rounded up all of Melania's fashion favorites since being in The White House, from most expensive to least expensive. When she first married Donald Trump, she seemed to have a penchant for silky, colorful dresses as she attended some of Manhattan's most exclusive events, like the short, slinky, bright pink dress she Breast Cancer Research Foundation's hot pink party in 2005 MOST EXPENSIVE Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 Black Bag: $50,000 One of, if not the most, expensive pieces in Melania's closet appears to be the Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 in Black. The bag is a rarity, as it's made of one of the brand's most coveted materials: crocodile skin. According to Fashionphile, a high-end consignment boutique, their bags made with crocodile skin typically go for more than three times the traditional leather ones that are for sale. Online, these bags can be priced on secondhand websites for over $100,000. It seems to be a staple in Melania's closet, too, as she has been seen wearing it multiple times over the past few years. She famously sported the purse when she and Trump departed the White House on inauguration day in January 2021, as Joe Biden entered his presidency. Melania paired the bag with a black, knee-length skirt and cropped tweed jacket, along with a pair of black gloves and sky-high black Christian Louboutin heels. It seems to be a staple in Melania's closet, too, as she has been seen wearing it multiple times over the past few years She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London At the time, the couple were headed off to Mar-a-Lago, where they stayed when their days in The White House were over. She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London. She paired it with her favorite Celine trench coat, but it was the bag, which has gold detail on it, that really made a statement. Floral Dolce & Gabbana jacket: $51,500 In 2017, Melania pulled out all the stops as she donned a dramatic coat by Dolce & Gabbana that was covered in silk, 3D floral appliques. Oh, and did we mention that it cost $51,500? According to Business Insider, just purchasing the jacket cost a deposit of $25,750. She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States Melania sported the fancy coat, which featured bold red, purple, green, white and blue florals when sightseeing around the city with the other spouses of world leaders. The jacket also featured bedazzled, embroidered flowers on it. She paired the coat with a matching clutch bag that had the same exact florals sewn onto it. At the time, the expensive jacket sparked a lot of controversy, as many pointed out that it was worth more than the monthly salary of many Americans. J. Mendel gown she wore to a 2018 visit to Great Britain: $6,990 During husband Donald Trump's official visit to Britain in 2018, Melania donned a Grecian-style, lemon yellow $6,990 gown by designer to a state dinner at Blenheim Palace. The whimsical gown featured a long, off-the-shoulder cape, and knotted detailing at the waist. It appeared to be made of chiffon, and Melania matched the look with a pair of yellow Manolo Blahnik heels. Per Today, she chose the color yellow in honor of Queen Elizabeth, whose favorite color was reportedly yellow. Of course, she accessorized with her $4 million engagement ring and a pair of sparkling diamond studs in her ears. LEAST EXPENSIVE Controversial 'I really don't care, do u?' jacket from Zara: $39.99 In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, 'I really don't care, do u?' on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border. The jacket was a military-green, army-style jacket, and the crass words were spray painted on the back in white. The first lady's surprise visit to a children's shelter - where a handful of the 55 children it houses had been taken from their parents - was intended to underline her compassion for children, and came after she lobbied Trump to end separations. But instead, it was overshadowed by the former model's choice of jacket. At the time, her husband claimed that the message was really one that was for the 'fake news media.' In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, 'I really don't care, do u?' on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border ''I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO YOU?' written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares,' he tweeted at the time. However, in her 2024 self-titled memoir, Melania, claimed it that the jacket was meant to protest against 'anonymously sourced reporting.' 'I was determined… not to let the media's false narratives affect my mission to help the children and families at the border,' she wrote. 'In fact, I decided to let them know that their criticism would never stop me from doing what I feel is right. To make the point, I wore a particular jacket as I boarded the plane, a jacket that quickly became famous,' she added. Melania recounts how when the plane door closed, her press secretary's inbox was 'flooded with urgent emails from top-tier media outlets regarding the jacket.' 'It's a message for the media,' I said, 'to let them know I was unconcerned with their opinions of me' [but] she told me I couldn't say that. 'Why not? It is the truth.'' Melania wrote about their exchange. 'I disagreed with her insistence that I couldn't say that,' the First Lady wrote. 'Ignoring my comments, she told a CNN reporter she was friendly with that it was simply a jacket, a fashion choice with no underlying message.' The mom-of-one wrote that the frenzy over the jacket 'overshadowed the importance of the children, the border, and the policy change.' She called it 'just another example of the media's irresponsible behavior.' Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers: $50 Although Melania owns her fair share of designer heels, when it's time to get comfy, she's been proven to be a fan of Converse shoes, which typically range from around $50 to $100, depending on the style. She's been known to wear low-top Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, which typically are priced anywhere from $50 to $60. The First Lady appears to own the sneakers in all different colors, too - white, gray and black. Most recently, she sported a pair of gray Chuck Taylors when she accompanied her husband to Texas to visit devastation from the flash floods. She matched the shoes with a pair of army-green pants and light khaki coat by Dolce and Gabbana. In 2017, she wore her white pair of low-top Converse as she visited those who had been impacted by Hurricane Irma. She paired the shoes with a casual, green button-up shirt and white skinny jeans. FLOTUS hat: $20 In 2017, Melania stepped out in perhaps the least expensive item she's ever worn - a black baseball cap that simply read, 'FLOTUS' on it, short for First Lady of the United States, of course. At the time, she was stepping off of Air Force One with her husband, and paired the hat with a pair of aviator sunglasses and crisp white button down. It's unclear exactly where she bought her hat, but there are now tons of websites that sell extremely similar versions, some for even less than $20. You could even customize your own for $12 on Amazon.


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Where to buy Melania Trump's style favorites
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more First Lady of the United States Melania Trump has always been known for her classic and timeless style, but since her husband entered the White House for his second term this year, she has pulled out a number of elegant looks for various engagements over the past few months. During Donald Trump 's first term in 2017, Melania often went for super glamorous looks, like the $51,000 Dolce and Gabbana coat she wore to that year's G7 Summit in Sicily. This time around, Melania has appeared to favor skirt and pantsuits, as well as elegant shirtdresses. But you may be surprised to find out that some of these items are quite accessible, like the $55 Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers that she is often seen wearing. She has at least three pairs of the famous sneakers, which she's been seen wearing in black, gray and white over the years. Melania typically pairs the sneakers with skinny jeans or pants, to keep the look casual. And while she favors designers like Christian Dior and Valentino, she dressed down in an army-green Rag & Bone puffer jacket in January as she and her husband headed for a visit to Asheville, North Carolina - a region that was devastated by Hurricane Helene this past September. The jacket, which originally cost $998, is now on sale on the brand's website for $698.60. Rag & Bone Leonard Puffer Jacket $698.60 Shop The fashionable coat features snap-button detailing, a hood and lace-up detailing on its sides. She accessorized the coat with a black knit beanie and sleek black aviator sunglasses. But now is not the time for big, puffy coats, as she has pulled off a number of fun, seasonal spring looks as of late, especially favoring cream colors over the past few months. While making a surprise visit to the patients at the Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., on July 3, she sported a pair of $995 white ballet flats by designer Roger Vivier. The elegant flats featured the brand's signature silver buckle on the toe. Along with the shoes, the Melania author stunned in a pleated, black-and-white polka dot blouse, which she tucked into a a cream, knee-length skirt. Melania completed the look with a light makeup look and mauve lipstick, wearing her hair in soft waves. And, staying true to her favorite designer, Dolce and Gabbana, the mom-of-one sported a pair of bright pink-and-green floral pants with a white base from the brand during the June 12 congressional picnic. Peony-print cotton jacquard pants $1,795 Shop The pants are available for $1,795, and comes with a matching blazer jacket and high heels with the same print. When Melania wore the pants, she completed the look with a crisp, white button down shirt and thin white belt. She topped things off with a pair of sky-high, pink suede heels. They were the same color pink as the detail on her trousers.