Alan Cumming reads his deeply moving memoir about his relationship with his father and the mystery of his maternal grandfather.

Alan Cumming grew up in the iron grip of a father who readily meted out violence. In the spring of 2010, after a decade of estrangement, Alex Cumming, Alan's father, renewed contact with his son.

Aware that Alan had agreed to film an episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and so solve a family mystery, Alex, now terminally ill, chose this moment to share a shocking secret.

In this powerful, honest and moving memoir, Alan explores his troubled relationship with his father against the backdrop of filming 'Who Do You Think You Are?' where he makes discoveries about the life of his enigmatic grandfather. In the process he discovers more about himself.

Written and read by Alan Cumming.
Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014. Show less