Woman Abandoned as Baby Spent Years Searching for Her Father. Decades Later, She Made a Shocking Family Discovery (Exclusive)
Woman Abandoned as Baby Spent Years Searching for Her Father. Decades Later, She Made a Shocking Family Discovery (Exclusive)
Becca LongmireThu, September 3, 2026 at 2:30 PM UTC
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(L-R) Paul, Marie and Ian reunite on ‘Long Lost Family’Credit: Wall To Wall/ITV -
A woman who was abandoned by her parents as a baby got emotional as she learned she had three half-brothers she never knew about on the U.K. television show Long Lost Family
Marie, from Norfolk, England, explained how she’d spent years searching for her father, James, after she was taken in by her grandparents as a baby. Her mother was 17 years old when she gave birth and was unable to look after her
During the search for Marie’s dad, the show’s team discovered Marie had siblings who lived very near
A woman in England who was abandoned by her parents as a baby made a shocking discovery about her family life while searching for her father.
During the Thursday, Sept. 3 season 16 premiere of the U.K. television show Long Lost Family, Marie, a train conductor from Norfolk, revealed her grandparents took her in as a baby as her mother was 17 years old at the time and was unable to look after her, per a press release obtained by PEOPLE.
Marie, who said she had a good childhood, had occasionally seen her mother growing up while living with her grandparents, but she’d largely been absent from her life. Marie’s grandparents already had six children still at home when they welcomed her in.
Marie eventually started asking questions about her father, James, once she’d turned 16, recalling, “I just blurted it all out. ‘Where’s my Dad, I wanted to know about my father.’ ”
Marie was told by her mom that her father had chosen her name and had visited her in the hospital after she was born.
Marie with ‘Long Lost Family’ host Davina McCallCredit: Wall To Wall/ITV
“That really touched me. Must have cared for me to do that,” Marie said of her dad choosing her moniker.
Questioning whether it was “too late” to reunite with her dad, Marie said, “You just hope that one day it can happen and it will happen.”
Ian, ‘Long Lost Family’ host Nicky Campbell and PaulCredit: Wall To Wall/ITV
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Despite the show’s team not being able to find James, they did make a shocking discovery — that he had three sons from a previous marriage, which occurred before he met Marie’s mom.
One of Marie’s half-brothers, Anthony, didn’t want to be on camera, but did say he wanted to meet his newly-discovered sibling. Marie was seen meeting her other two half-brothers, Paul and Ian, who she learned lived very close to her, without her even knowing.
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In videos exclusively shared with PEOPLE, Marie was told by host Davina McCall that they’d found her three siblings. She was also handed a letter written by her brothers, before she asked McCall to read it as aloud as she couldn’t through her tears.
Her siblings said in the letter that it was a huge “surprise” to learn they had a half-sister, as well as telling Marie, “It’s very brave of you to reach out to find your family. That can’t have been easy, and we’re so glad that you did,” insisting they couldn’t wait to meet and get to know her.
Paul, who took the Greater Anglia train line every morning that Marie worked on, explained that he was sure he recognized her face after being shown a photo, per the release.
He said on the show, “A couple of weeks ago, I actually had a slightly longer conversation with her,” insisting, “I’ve always wanted to have a sister.”
Host McCall told Marie, “He saw your picture, and he went: ‘I know her.’ You’ve met your brother.”
Marie learned Ian was also close by, in the same town of Wymondham, where she lives.
Like Marie, the brothers said they’d also been searching for their father through the years, but to no avail.
“I was only 2 [years old] when he left, so I haven’t really got any memories at all,” Paul shared.
Marie was in shock after learning she’d met one of her brothers, telling McCall, “Oh wow! I didn’t even realize.”
She said after reuniting with her siblings at a country hotel in the local area, “A weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I’ve always got a big brother to turn to now.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
