'It's Britain's Got Love!'

Nicky Campbell and Davina McCall on why their hit reunion show has never been more emotional and how it’s changed their own lives…

- Caren Clark

 They’ve co-hosted TV’s most tearinducing series, Long Lost Family, for seven years, but the chances are few and far between for Nicky Campbell and Davina McCall to sit down and compare notes on being a shoulder to cry on for countless emotional relatives.

So when TV Times meets the presenting duo at ITV’s London headquarters to chat about the return of their award-winning show, their pleasure at being able to catch up and reflect on their experiences is palpable.

Here, Davina, 50, and Nicky, 57, tell us what to expect as they reunite more families and why, after eight series, the life-changing show still fills them with pride – and tears…

Have you had any firsts this year?

Davina: We’ve had some of our youngest searchers and our first searcher who’s transitioning. When you’ve given up a son for adoption and a daughter finds you, that’s a big deal. The mother felt that as long as they were happy, she was with them all the way.

Nicky: We’ve also had the greatest geographical spread of searches. I’ve been to Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Colombia, Atlanta and New York. You’re only there briefly, so you feel vulnerable anyway, and you’re changing someone’s life. My crying is always done in Australia!

Does the show still pack an emotional punch for you both?

Nicky: It just gets more powerful. As I get older and more fragile emotionally and my children grow up, I realise how special family is.