Joe Swash recently appeared on the popular television program 'Who Do You Think You Are?', which helps individuals explore their family history. While filming the episode, the actor became emotional upon learning surprising details about his ancestry.
Joe Swash Gets Emotional After Ancestry Test
Swash had been eager to uncover more about his father's side of the family when he joined the show. In footage from the episode, the 'EastEnders' star is seen becoming emotional over the revelations. Discussing his family and past experiences, the actor shared: 'For me, the past has been something that I've, not avoided, but I've had no interest in. I lost my dad when I was quite young. He was quite young, only 39. I was only 12.'
He elaborated on how he has coped with the grief of losing his father at such a young age, noting that many things at home changed after his passing. 'When my dad was alive, my house was full of life and laughter, and then when my dad died, for a long time, it was a house full of sadness and grief. A lot of the time it was just trying to get through that period,' he added.
On the show, Swash aimed to learn more about his father's origins, including a potential link to the Italian mafia. After taking the test, he discovered a connection between his great-great-grandfather and suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst, a renowned feminist, socialist, and anti-fascist activist from the 1880s. The test also revealed that his great-great-grandfather was an active activist heavily involved with the Communist Workers' movement of the time.
How Joe Swash Felt After Discovering His Ancestry
After gaining clarity on his heritage, Swash could not contain his emotions. He stated: 'It really does fill me with a great deal of pride to think that he was struggling through life anyway, being Italian, living where they were living, but he was still concerned about what was happening in the world and fascism.'
He expressed immense pride in his great-great-grandfather and the struggles he endured. Swash reflected on the challenges his ancestor may have faced and how he persevered for what he believed was right.
Joe Swash on His Current Life
The actor also shared insights into his present life. He and his partner, Stacey Solomon, have five children and are constantly busy caring for them. 'My life is quite chaotic. My work is quite chaotic; it can take me all over the place, and the hours are erratic. And when we get home, we've got five kids to look after. So every now and then, I don't do it enough, I like to go fishing,' he said.
Swash and Solomon have four children together: Harry, Rex, Rose, and Belle. The actor is also a stepfather to Stacey's two older sons from a previous marriage, Zachary and Leighton.
