Happy to help

Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell on why their BAFTA-winning show still means so much

- CAREN CLARK

Few programmes remain at the peak of their powers after 11 series, drawing both widespread acclaim and huge audiences, but Long Lost Family is a special show.

The life-affirming ITV series, which returns for another 10-part run this week, won its second, much-deserved BAFTA in June, for its Born Without Trace strand, and continues to hold a unique place in the hearts of viewers thanks to its joyous and deeply emotional reunions.

Now, as they bring more loved ones back together, presenters Davina McCall, 53, and Nicky Campbell, 60, reveal what we can expect this year…

The first episode follows Lisa Phillips (see box below), who wants to find her birth mum but fears upsetting her adoptive dad. That must have been poignant…

DAVINA Lisa’s wonderful. Adoptive parents sometimes struggle with their children seeking out their birth parents, which stops them [the child] from looking. But Lisa wants to introduce her birth mother to her mum and dad.

NICKY You feel torn. But everyone deserves to know where they came from. I could relate to that [Nicky was adopted as a baby]. I was lucky my mum encouraged me.

Former Liverpool and Leeds United footballer Dominic Matteo is also in the opener. After suffering a brain tumour, he’s looking for his birth mum Margaret. That must have been emotional, particularly when Margaret learnt he’d played for her native Scotland…

NICKY I’ll never forget the look on her face. Imagine the pride! Dominic’s search was driven by his recovery. It was life-changing. If you’re ill, it makes you think, ‘I’ve got to do this now.’