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Emma Willis uncovers dark ancestral secret on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?

Scandal in her clan!

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Big Brother host Emma Willis discovered a shocking family secret about her ancestors while filming her episode of BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?

The presenter delved into her past and struggled to hold back tears after finding out a dark family secret.

Emma, 41, was told one of her ancestors was part of a murderous Irish group.

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The star discovered that two of her ancestors in the 1850s were both love rats who had two illegitimate children and their spouses weren’t aware.

The brunette beauty was also told that her five-times-great-grandfather, Richard Fowler, was part of a violent group in Ireland.

She was told that Richard once dragged another man and his son out of bed and stabbed them before beating and torturing them both.

The mum-of-three shockingly said: “That’s horrific. I felt quite sick when I was reading it.”

Speaking about her childhood during the show, which airs every Thursday at 9pm, Emma said: “I come from a kind family and we’re true Brummies.

“My parents still keep my bedroom at home made up for me.”

Emma is now happily married to former Busted star Matt Willis, 34.

Talking about her life with Matt and their three gorgeous children, Isabelle, eight, Ace, five, and Trixie, one, she said: “Matt and I run quite an open house.

“I grew up that way – there were always family members round the corner. It was that typical, old-fashioned, working-class [scenario] – everyone mucks in and helps raise you.

“I come – from what I know – from good people.”

Earlier this month Emma and Matt, who tied the knot in 2008, celebrated their nine-year wedding anniversary.

Emma uploaded a rare snap of the two sharing a smooch to her Instagram alongside a sweet message to her beau.

She said: “Thank you @mattjwillis for our beautiful life together. I love you babe Happy anniversary ❤️.”

The couple met while Emma was a presenter for MTV and Matt was performing as part of Busted.

The doting mum told Loose Women last year: “I called up Simon Webbe from Blue who was with him on the tele. They were on Ant And Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway together and I said can you pass my number onto him… [Matt] didn’t call me.”

But luckily Matt did end up calling her a few days later and the pair hit it off, with Matt proposing two years later in 2007.

Now the loved-up pair are happily enjoying parenthood bringing up their three children.

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But it seems they aren’t planning on expanding their brood in the future and are pretty happy with their family the way it is.

Speaking about their youngest, Trixie, Emma said: “She has just slotted in but because I know this is my last.

“I’m taking every single little bit in because I know I won’t do it again.”

When interviewed by MailOnline about how her marriage to Matt has lasted so long the star revealed: “We are just two people who still love each other very much. That’s it really.

“He’s still my absolute favourite person to be around and hang out with.”

We LOVE these two.


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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