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BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

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Family Finders

Reality

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Families & Relationships

Following the work of agencies dedicated to tracking down people's lost family members.

Following the work of Britain's army of family finders, from international organisations to independent genealogy detective agencies, dedicated to tracking down people's lost family members.

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Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

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Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

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Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

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Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

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Family Finders: Series 2

Angellica Bell

Sam Wilson

Rob Butterfield

James Christie-Miller

undefined Ricochet

Family Finders: Series 2: Episode 13

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Episode 13

Series 2

BBC One - Family Finders, Series 2, Episode 13

An investigation into the life of a man's mother reveals a brother he never knew he had.

Documentary series. An investigation into the life of a man's mother reveals an 80-year-old brother he never knew he had.

Brothers Fred and Jimmy O'Donnell spent 80 years apart. Their Irish mother gave birth out of wedlock, first to Jimmy, who was placed in an orphanage, and later to Fred, who grew up in a Catholic boy's institution. Both boys grew up completely unaware of each other's existence, and their mother was sent to one of Ireland's notorious Magdalene laundries, where she remained as a 'fallen woman' for the rest of her life.

As soon as he could, Fred left Ireland, settled in Bradford and got on with raising a family. But the thought of what had become of his mother played on his mind. Determined to help, Fred's daughter, Theresa, made it her mission to trace her grandmother. Her search reveals a tragic story, but she also makes a major discovery - her dad had a brother called Jimmy. According to records, this brother would now be 80 years old. Could he still be alive? And if so, could he be found? Newspaper appeals to find Jimmy met with no joy, and then a family-tracing agency stepped in.

And it was a chance conversation with a friend at a drinks party that led to another incredible family discovery. Sisters Tessa and Jan's father died when they were young. They later found out that, whilst continuing to live under the same roof, their mother and father had been divorced for some time before he died and that he had been in a relationship with another woman, called Rosemary. But there was something else - soon after their father died, Rosemary had given birth to twins. 

Many years passed without the siblings crossing paths, until a conversation at a party revealed the twins' existence. Delighted by the discovery, genealogical detective work carried out by Tessa's husband revealed they had all spent their lives living close by. Now Tessa and Jan meet with twins Chris and Jennie to exchange photographs and memories before an emotional visit to their shared father's grave - a first for Chris and Jennie.

BBC One

Documentary series following the work of Britain's ever-growing army of family finders.

Documentary series following the work of Britain's ever-growing army of family finders as they track down people's lost family members.

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