Layton Williams broke down in tears after learning the ‘awful’ truth about his enslaved ancestors on Monday’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

The actor, 30 – who took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 – appeared on the latest episode of the much-loved BBC show. 

Layton decided to take part in the genealogy programme because he was keen to find out more about his family history.

He grew up in Bury, Manchester, with his mum and three siblings, but his dad – who was born in Bury – also has Jamaican roots, and wanted to find out more. 

During his time on Who Do You Think You Are?, Layton found out that some of his family members were involved in slavery. 

Speaking about what he found out at the end of the instalment, Layton said: ‘I’m feeling a mixture of feelings, like a bag of feelings. 

Layton Williams breaks down in tears learning ‘awful’ truth about his enslaved ancestors on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?

The actor, 30 – who took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 – appeared on the latest episode of the much-loved BBC show

Layton decided to take part in the genealogy programme because he was keen to find out more about his family history

‘When you’re a person of colour, you always know that is probably the eventuality. But when you actually have it all spelt out to you that your family would have, you know, been enslaved, quite frankly…

‘To actually think about it and to really know their names, and know that they were children growing up in it, there’s so much black power in that.

‘And I don’t think I’ve been like, really, really proud of being, like, a person of colour. 

‘And really, like leaning into “I’m a beautiful black man and I’m proud to have come from people who went through that, but kind of came through the other side…”

‘Now I’m going to cry.’ 

Fighting back the tears, Layton continued: ‘It’s really, it’s really beautiful and it’s important that we don’t’ forget because it’s real and it happened, and it was sad.

‘And I’m sure it was awful, but we made it here. And my family is like, actually, they’re bonkers. 

‘But they’re amazing. And there’s so many of us. 

Layton took part in Strictly Come Dancing (pictured with his former dance partner Nikita Kuzmin) back in 2023

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‘And I really, really hope that whatever they went through, like we were kind of worth it, you know?’ 

‘So yeah, I will look back at this experience for sure and be really happy.

‘I’m really proud of the family that came before me.’

This series has already aired some very emotional scenes. 

Last week Ross Kemp broke down as he unearthed a family secret that he spent his whole life questioning.

The actor, 60, found out that his great-grandad, who was known in the clan as Pop, who had 10 other siblings and lived in a pub in Portsmouth as a youngster.  

Ross recalled a moment that his mum had told him that her dad had turned up at the door wearing a US uniform, and everyone ᴀssumed that he had been shipwrecked in the southern China sea, but the soap star found out exactly what had happened to him. 

The voice over explained: ‘On 11 July 1943 Pops troop ship the Duchess of York and her convoy were over 300 miles off the Portuguese coast when three German air force planes took off from France and headed towards them.’ 

Layton said: ‘And really, like leaning into “I’m a beautiful black man and I’m proud to have come from people who went through that, but kind of came through the other side…” Now I’m going to cry’

Ross met up with historian Sarah Louise Miller and she told him that the ship was hit twice, her engines were put out of order and she ended up catching fire.

As Louise explained what had happened, Ross became very emotional and wiped a tear from his face and she said although they were off the ship, they still weren’t safe.

Ross told Louise: ‘Sorry I’m getting emotional.’

‘It would have been a very scary situation,’ she told him.

As his voice cracked, Ross asked: ‘But he survived, yeah?’ Louise replied: ‘He did survive.’

Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.