Emily Atack cries after great-great-grandfather took his own life

Emily Atack moved to tears as she learns her great-great-grandfather took his own life after fellow miner was ‘crushed’ in horrific accident

Emily Atack was moved to tears as she filmed an upcoming episode of Who Do You Think You Are? after learning her great-great-grandfather took his own life at the age of 33.

The actress, herself 33, broke down as was told that in 1886, Joseph Atack was in charge of miners’ safety at Nostell Colliery, in South Yorkshire when a man aged 36 was crushed.

In the tragic incident, the man was dragged along by the cage used to transport miners underground, the television star learned in the episode, which will air on Thursday.

A verdict of ‘accidental killing’ was recorded and after an investigation it was discovered the man had ‘jumped on the cage’, putting himself in danger. 

Three years after the accident, her great-great-grandfather Joseph jumped into a river and drowned after he was left unable to cope with what happened, according to the Mirror.

Sad: Emily Atack, 33, was moved to tears as she filmed an upcoming episode of Who Do You Think You Are? after learning her great-great-grandfather took his own life

Emotional: The actress broke down as was told that in 1886, Joseph Atack was in charge of miners’ safety at Nostell Colliery, in South Yorkshire when a man aged 36 was crushed

Joseph left his wife, also named Emily, behind to care for their five children.

A newspaper report stated Emily’s great-great-grandfather was due to be convicted of manslaughter but ‘must have gone into the water in a state of temporary insanity’.

Describer her family as a ‘sensitive bunch’, Emily imagined Joseph would have been ‘would have been hugely affected’.

She said: ‘If you gave a signal and it cost someone their life, you would never get over something like that.’

When she was told her great-great-grandfather Joseph took his own life at the age she is now, Emily said: ‘Oh, my God. That is horrifically sad.’

Meanwhile, Emily was shocked to discover her link to actor turned football club owner Ryan Reynolds. 

During the upcoming appearance on BBC ancestry show Who Do You Think You Are? the comedian finds out that her great-grandfather was the first to put Wrexham on the map. 

Ryan, 46, and fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney purchased the then non-league Welsh football team Wrexham back in 2020 – gaining a promotion into League Two this week.  

Link: Elsewhere, Emily was shocked to discover her link to actor turned football club owner Ryan Reynolds

Football: During an upcoming appearance on BBC ancestry show Who Do You Think You Are? the comedian finds out that her great-grandfather was the first to put Wrexham on the map

According to The Sun, Emily finds out how her ancestor Edward Robbins became famed for his involvement in Welsh football. 

Edward, known as Ted, was the longest serving secretary of the Football Association of Wales, he clashed with the English Football League over their reluctance to free up their players for international duty. 

Through his campaigning, the rule was eventually scraped, meaning Welsh-born players, who were playing for English clubs, could still represent their country. 

A source told the publication: ‘Emily could not believe the link to Wrexham, particularly as the name is now so associated with Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who co-own the club.

‘She is in no way sporty either, so to hear her family had this pedigree came as a big surprise.’

Who Do You Think You Are? is set to air on BBC1 on Thursday at 9pm. 

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