Latest news with #DNAJourney
Daily Record
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Sam Thompson says 'we faked it' as family bombshell unveiled on ITV DNA Journey
Sam Thompson and Marvin Humes appeared on ITV's DNA Journey on Thursday night and the former Made in Chelsea star had a surprising confession about his name Sam Thompson was left speechless as he learnt that his family 'faked' their last name to 'improve social standing'. The presenter and television personality teamed up with his mate Marvin Humes for ITV's DNA Journey, where famed duos delve into their lineage. The episode kicked off in Jamaica, unveiling Marvin's familial past and the decision to relocate to Britain, but what took Marvin aback was learning Sam knew nothing about his heritage. Sam, formerly of Made in Chelsea fame, voiced his bewilderment: "I really don't know why I haven't asked," showing signs of discomfort. He elaborated, "When you grow up with - I was on a show called Made in Chelsea, it's the posh thing. You almost don't want to know because you almost feel a bit bad." He also let slip that his surname isn't merely Thompson; it actually extends to De Courcy Thompson, further explaining why he chose to abbreviate it, reports the Manchester Evening News. "One, hard to spell. And two, you sound like a bit of a douche," Sam, 32, remarked before revealing, "We have a signet ring!". During the conversation with Marvin about his family, Marvin quickly changed the subject, cautioning Sam: "It can't be as nice and fluffy and unicorns and rainbows as it's been in Jamaica, and I'm sorry to say it, but it's looking like it's going to be you." Realising the implications, a visibly worried Sam replied when he discovered that his ancestor Charles Thompson had been in Jamaica in 1815, while Marvin comically wiped his forehead, saying, "This is going to get deep." Further details made Sam even more anxious, to which he responded: "That doesn't sound good. That sounds really bad." However, there was a twist; his ancestor Charles Thompson turned out to be a prominent figure in the Enniskillen Regiment of Foot during the Battle of Waterloo against Napoleon. Sam exclaimed with unbridled relief: "Oh my god, I'm so happy! Oh, you really scared me! You were all thinking it.." As for the fabricated nobility, it emerged that Charles's offspring Lesley invented the name De Courcy for his son Sydney to boost their societal status. Finding amusement in this, Sam laughed heartily and said: "We faked it and I'm over the moon. I've got a signet ring and it doesn't mean anything. We just gave it to ourselves. It's like those people who buy a knighthood just to call themselves sir or lady. That's us!".
Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sam Thompson says 'we faked it' over family name bombshell on DNA Journey
The Made in Chelsea star discovered the truth about his real name in the latest episode of ITV's DNA Journey, which saw him team up with pal Marvin Humes Sam Thompson has been left gobsmacked after a family history exploration on ITV's 'DNA Journey' presented him with a surprising revelation about his name, only to discover it wasn't quite true. Joining Marvin Humes on the popular ancestry show 'DNA Journey', the presenter and reality TV favourite set out to trace his lineage, uncovering some unexpected tales along the way. Starting off in sunny Jamaica, Marvin uncovered moving stories about his ancestors' migration to Britain, while he was stunned to learn that his mate Sam had no clue about his own family's past. Feeling rather sheepish, the ex-'Made In Chelsea' star confessed: "I really don't know why I haven't asked," as he mused over the potential awkwardness brought by the show's posh image. "When you grow up with - I was on a show called Made in Chelsea, it's the posh thing. You almost don't want to know because you almost feel a bit bad." He also revealed that Thompson isn't his full surname. The family name is actually De Courcy Thompson and the former Made in Chelsea star explained the decision to drop part of it, reports the Manchester Evening News. Sam, 32, candidly expressed his views on having a hard-to-spell name and feeling pretentious, cheekily remarking: "We have a signet ring!". Upon uncovering family history, Marvin flipped the script, cautioning Sam with a mixture of jest and solemnity: "It can't be as nice and fluffy and unicorns and rainbows as it's been in Jamaica, and I'm sorry to say it, but it's looking like it's going to be you." Alarm flickered across Sam's face when learning about his ancestor Charles Thompson's stint in Jamaica in 1815, while Marvin played up the tension, saying: "This is going to get deep." As historical connections were drawn, Sam anxiously responded: "That doesn't sound good. That sounds really bad." But, to Sam's delight, the true legacy of Charles Thompson unfolded; he was not what Sam feared but rather a notable figure in defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. An elated Sam exclaimed: "Oh my god, I'm so happy! Oh, you really scared me! You were all thinking it..." The revelation continued that it was Charles' son Lesley who crafted the De Courcy surname for his own son Sydney, giving the family a veneer of distinction. Sam laughed as he said: "We faked it and I'm over the moon. I've got a signet ring and it doesn't mean anything. We just gave it to ourselves. It's like those people who buy a knighthood just to call themselves sir or lady. That's us!"
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Oti Mabuse breaks down in tears on Loose Women as she reveals harrowing family discovery from ITV's DNA Journey
Oti Mabuse broke down in tears on Loose Women as she revealed some harrowing family history that she unearthed while taking part on ITV 's DNA Journey. The 34 year old discussed what she'd found out about her ancestry while chatting about Sam Thomspon and Marvin Humes ' upcoming episode of the programme. It got Oti and her co-stars Kaye Adams, 62, Nadia Sawalha, 60, and Jane Moore, 63, thinking about their own family history. Oti said: 'I've done a lot of ITV television. This was the best show I've ever done. 'It gave me something personally back. 'I'm from South Africa and our history is really rough. 'With my family, it was wiped out, we had no way of getting any information. When we did this show, they went back to the beginning...' They then played out a clip from the episode and she continued: 'This makes me very emotional. 'This moment was the moment me and my sister learnt about my grandfather, was was actually a soldier in World War Two. 'He was fighting, he fought for the British. 'They promised all these young black men, you're going to war, you're going to fight for the country, come back and get land, be loved, celebrated. They came back, they gave them boots and eradicated them and left them in the middle of nowhere. So that is the history.' She added: 'I think if you see the clip, we cried all our makeup off, it was so heartbreaking. but also so liberating, whether its good or bad, you know where you come from. 'I always believe the roots of where you come from give you the power and the encouragement and confidence to enter the room and go for your future. 'Now I know I am a granddaughter of a soldier. 'My great great aunt was a princess and it went down into royalty.' They then played out that exact moment and Oti couldn't contain her emotion. The dancer burst into tears as she Nadia praised her family for their hard efforts. Back in 2023, Oti and Motsi broke down in tears as they were finally told information about their grandfather following a DNA test. The sisters took part in the show Oti and Motsi Mabuse's DNA Journey in a bid to learn more about their family history. The Strictly Come Dancing stars became emotional as they were given medals their grandfather received for his work in the armed forces and they also learned they are distantly related to Nelson Mandela. In one heartwarming clip from the show, Oti and Motsi wipe away tears as a man shared their grandfather's family history. Oti said: 'It's a good thing, it's an amazing thing. Please don't think we're sad. One of the missing pieces that we've missed and needed to hear for so long, it's a beautiful thing. We're so grateful. These are tears of, "Oh my God!"' The man replied: 'You've got a lot to be proud of and all the good deeds your grandfather has done.' Motsi then read out some of the honours their grandfather received, saying: 'Defence Medal British, war medal and an African Service medal.' 'We had no idea we had war medals in the family,' she added. Oti added: 'We've tried and everywhere we looked, there's nothing. That's why we have it in our own heads that there's nothing in our family. You've completely flipped that on its head.' Motsi said the pair couldn't wait to give the information to their father, who they suspected wouldn't know any of it either. In another clip, the sisters spoke to a different man who had examined their DNA and discovered Nelson Mandela is a 'genetic relative' of theirs. He said: 'Your group, some quite special people belong to your group and are distant genetic relatives of yours.' Motsi replied: 'Don't say Nelson Mandela.' The man confirms it was Nelson Mandela, prompting Oti and Motsi to jump up and down with delight as he added: 'And Archbishop Desmond Tutu, both of them.' In another clip, Oti and Motsi appear to discover they are also related to a royal family. They speak to a young woman over Zoom who tells them: 'I have this really exciting nugget of information. 'My great grandma was a direct descendant of royalty. Her name is Princess Hermina.'
Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Oti Mabuse breaks down in tears on Loose Women after emotional family revelation
Oti Mabuse was seen getting emotional on the Loose Women panel earlier today, as she reminisced on her time on the TV show DNA journey with her sister Motsi Oti Mabuse emotional as she chats about her family history Oti Mabuse broke down in tears on today's episode of Loose Women as she spoke about her emotional journey on the show, DNA Journey. During the episode of the ITV show, which aired in 2023, Oti and Motsi Mabuse explored their family history in South Africa, in which they discovered a WWII connection. Their grandfather, Paulus Mabuse, fought for the British in the Native Military Corps during the war. During the ITV daytime show, Oti revisited a clip of herself and her sister Motsi when they found out, which moved her to tears. In the clip, Oti and Motsi were seen breaking down in tears when they were given medals their grandfather received for his work in the armed forces. 'It's a good thing, it's an amazing thing. Please don't think we're sad. One of the missing pieces that we've missed and needed to hear for so long, it's a beautiful thing. We're so grateful. These are tears of, "Oh my God!"' The pair said they had "no idea" that there were war medals in their family, as they learnt their grandfather fought for the British in World War II. Oti revealed that her grandfather, along with many others were promised land. However, they were relocated and left in the middle of nowhere. Oti said it made her feel "horrendous" as she said both her and Motsi cried their make-up off. However, she said they felt liberated knowing where they come from. "Now I know that I'm a granddaughter of a soldier," she told the panel, before the clip was played. As they cut back to the studio after the clip was played, Oti wiped away he tears as she said: "It's moving. "Also, I think that we tried to look for something, we didn't wait for the show to come to us. We also asked our parents, and you can see the generational trauma that it causes. "My dad didn't speak to his dad and so he didn't know. All that they knew is maybe they drank, they went to the mine, and then they died. He didn't know that his life served a purpose and he helped save the world. "We're here because of people like our grandad, and it means the world to us." Speaking on her experience on Loose Women, Oti said it was the "best show" she'd ever done. "It gave me something personally back. Our history in South Africa is really rough. Specifically with my family it was wiped out, so we had no way of getting any information." Tonight, Sam Thompson and Marvin Humes will be taking part in the ITV show to discover their family history. In the episode, the duo start off in Jamaica. There, JLS star Marvin finds out that his Great Grandma Blanche was not actually married to his Great Grandfather David James. They had four children, but immediately after the fourth, Marvin's Grandma Ruby, was born in 1930, David James left. Meanwhile, Sam flies into a panic when he is told he has an ancestor who spent time in Jamaica. 'It doesn't sounds good, don't say it..' he says. However, he is relieved to learn there is no slavery connection. It comes after Sam admits to Marvin that he knew "nothing" about his family history before taking part in the show.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Really scared' Sam Thompson floored by family bombshell on DNA Journey as he learns family 'faked' posh name 'to improve social standing' - and discovers baffling connection to I'm A Celeb pal Marvin Humes
Sam Thompson was left 'floored' by a family bombshell as he learnt that his family 'faked' their posh name to 'improve social standing' on the most recent episode of DNA Journey. The Made In Chelsea star, 32, appeared on the ITV show alongside his I'm A Celebrity pal Marvin Humes, 40. Viewers can catch up on what the pair - who met in the jungle two years ago - get up to this Thursday, as they head off to Jamaica and Ireland to find out about their family history. Sam's real name is Sam Robert De Courcy Thompson and one expert went on to tell the pair about the meaning behind it. The historian explained of his four time great grandfather: 'When his third son Sydney as born, he gave him the name De Courcy, it was made up, maybe they wanted to be a little posh. 'So he puts that on Sydney. This is happening a lot in this period of history... 'People were affecting more prominent names to give their family some social standing. ' Sam said: 'All I'm hearing is we faked it. I'm over the moon. I'm going to be honest with you. 'I've got a signet ring... doesn't mean anything. 'We just gave ourselves a signet... 'You know those people who now have rings, some people buy a knight ship and called them self sir or lady, that's us!' Shockingly, they also managed to find a connection to one another during their time filming the programme. The star is told that he has a DNA match and goes on to meet his long lost cousin Connolly Patrick McCausland in a very posh estate. Connolly told the pair that him common ancestor with Sam was a man and land agent called Robert McCausland - who owned 11 acres of Woolwich, London. And the pair were left shocked when Marvin pointed out that is where he used to live as a child. 'We're so connected, man,' Marvin told Sam. While in Jamaica, Sam is left panicked when he finds out about a historic family member who spent time in the country, fearing colonial affiliations. 'It doesn't sound good, don't say it..,' he told the expert. Fortunately, he learns that his ancestor had no links to slavery. It comes after Fay Ripley gasped as her 'mind was blown' by some 'insane' family history unearthed on a previous episode. The actress, 59 and her Cold Feet co-star Hermione Norris, 58, took part to find out their ancestry. The pair headed off to St Paul's Cathedral and Fay was told that she was related to a man called James Hardy, who was her four-times great grandfather. Fay was left lost for words when she found out that the Hardys - who were known as 'elite printers' - produced playing cards for where King George. Their printing building - which was part of St Paul's Cathedral - allowed them to watch over funerals of people such as the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson. The expert said: 'This is their building. This is where we are right now.' Fay replied: 'This is insane.' He added: 'From their window, they would watched the state funerals of Nelson. They would have watched the state funeral of Wellington. These things were happening in their front garden.' 'This is amazing,' Fay said. The expert then showed a drawing of their building, which had 'playing cards' printed on it and he told her: 'They didn't just make any cards, one of the premium prints of playing cards in the country. 'They were so good, their cards are still highly prized by collectors.' The voice over explained: 'Hardy and Sons playing cards were in such high demand, even King George owned his own deck. 'Playing cards was so popular it became one of the most taxed products of the time.' The Suspects star couldn't believe her ears as she explained a spooky link with the information that she had just learned - that her son tends to skateboard in that exact area. 'My son has been coming to there, there because kids come and skateboard, we don't even live that near anymore. 'He gets on a tube age 11 and says I'm going to go and skateboard at St Paul's Cathedral. It's so odd.'
