Cold Feet star stunned to discover relative's illegal job

and are seeking out their family history with the new series of . The pair, who have been friends for over 20 years, first became familiar with one another when James starred in , and Sarah in .

Both actors recently lost their parents and are determined to go on a journey to delve into other family connections. “My mum always used to say, ‘Life will never give you anything that you can’t cope with’,” says Sarah. “I so badly just want to dig a little bit deeper to find out, where did that come from?”

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James, says, “In a way I wish my mum and dad were here to see me go on the journey, but I suppose they will be with me in a sense. But also they’re never that far away, if I look into the album of my memory, they’re there pretty bright.”

Sarah says she idolised her mum Thelma, who had worked as a headteacher but passed away in 2017. Sarah is shocked to find that a passion for education runs in the family when she discovers the identity of a great grand-uncle. “It’s such a shame my mum is not with us anymore because that would have made her life,” says Sarah after the revelation. “She would have been so moved.”

As for James, he’s disappointed – and not completely surprised – when he finds out that his great grandfather was particularly adept at evading the law, running an illegal pub in Ireland during the late 1800s.

But the pair then head to France to find another of James’ ancestors who fought in the . When they arrive at Ulster Tower and walk through the memorial, James tears up as he realises, “I’m literally walking in the footsteps of my grandfather.”

James’ grandfather was kept as a prisoner of war, and the final surprise for James is when he finds out that his own father created a written legacy of his grandfather’s experience and donated them to Linen Hall Library in Ireland.

“I’m overwhelmed,” admits James. “The eight year- old boy wondered, ‘Was he a hero?’ and I’m delighted that that eight-year-old boy is now sitting in front of you finding out that he was indeed a heroic man.”

Watch DNA Journey With Ancestry on Wednesday 23 October, 9pm, ITV1

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