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DEATHLY SORROWS
Daniel Radcliffe breaks down reading his great grandfather’s suicide note on Who Do You Think You Are?
DANIEL Radcliffe breaks down in the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? as he reads his great grandfather’s suicide note.
The Harry Potter actor’s relative Samuel Gershon had been ruined by a robbery at the family’s Hatton Garden jewellery business in 1936.
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Prejudiced police accused the Jewish businessman of faking the raid to claim insurance cash.
So, destitute and shamed, Sam took his life aged 42.
An emotional Daniel says: “Everything he had worked for and that his father had worked for, has sort of been destroyed.
“You want to just reach into the past and just go ‘whatever you’re going through, you have so much to offer the people who are around you still . . . you have so much to give to them.
JARRING
“And, they still would all have loved you’.”
Daniel doesn’t rule out that his great grandfather could have faked the robbery, though there was no proof.
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Tragically, the insurance company eventually paid the claim — but only after Sam’s suicide.
With a backdrop of rising British fascism under Sir Oswald Mosley, there was strong evidence detectives were anti-Semitic and reluctant to properly investigate the crime.
A police report said: “Jews are so frequently responsible for the bringing down of their own business premises.”
Daniel, whose family descended from Russian and German immigrants, though he was raised an atheist, is shocked by the prejudice.
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Daniel says of the report: “There’s a lot to dig into in that one sentence. It’s very jarring to see being a Jew to be taken as a piece of evidence in itself.”
Shortly after the events, which took place in the year of the infamous Battle of Cable Street clash between fascists and local people in London’s East End, the family anglicised its name from Gershon to Gresham.
Claims the robbery were faked and the suicide became public knowledge, which must have been tough for Sam’s wife Raie.
FASCINATING
Daniel, who says he has always been surrounded by strong women in his life, admires his great grandmother’s “extraordinary shielding work” in protecting her daughters.
The actor, whose hit Potter films include 2010’s Deathly Hallows, adds: “It’s fascinating to find that maybe the strongest of all of them was this woman I knew almost nothing about.”
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One of the daughters affected was Daniel’s “Granny Pat”.
He also uncovers a photo of his great, great grandfather Louis, who bore a striking resemblance.
This is going to be heartbreaking TV.
READ MORE FROM ANDY HALLS' BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Holly's walkies talkies
IT’S a dog’s life for Holly Willoughby as she gets dragged across the floor by a pack of cute canines on This Morning.
Her co-host Phillip Schofield roared with laughter as Holly was pulled face down by the surprisingly powerful pooches.
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In the process, Holly almost gave viewers an eyeful thanks to her blue mini-dress.
She was caught unaware as This Morning played host to a dozen sausage dogs, which came on set as they discussed a new hotel created to cater for the breed.
It’s just as well they weren’t greyhounds.
Holly Willoughby falls flat on her stomach as she struggles to hold on to sausage dogs in This Morning studio
bizbit
ITV drama Grantchester will return for a fifth series, with James Norton handing his dog collar to Tom Brittney. He plays Rev Will Davenport – the new sidekick for Det Insp Geordie Keating (Robson Green).
Top Gear in tinsel special
TOP Gear’s success with Paddy McGuinness and Andrew Flintoff at the wheel continues with the Beeb giving them a Christmas special.
The pair – who have already been signed up for a second series – will travel to Asia to film the episode with co-host Chris Harris.
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It is the show’s first festive special since Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May went to Patagonia in 2014. There, they infuriated locals by driving around with the number plate H982 FKL, a reference to the Falklands War of 1982.
BBC Two controller Patrick Holland said: “Top Gear has come back with a real bang and we couldn’t be happier with how the audience is responding.
“This Christmas we’ll have a special adventure which promises to be epic and gruelling in true Top Gear style.”
Babysat by a pro
PROFESSOR Green, Anita Rani and Georgia Toffolo will be praying people go to sleep during their next show.
The trio join Rachel Riley for W’s My Famous Babysitter where they have to juggle a family of at least three children as the show looks at parenting in the 21st Century.
Professor Green said: “I’m excited to be part of this smart and uplifting series that explores the demands of modern parenting.”
Anita Rani added: “I hope the kids like me.”
Either way, a bottle of wine should help pass the time . . .
Rachel Riley marries Strictly lover Pasha Kovalev in secret ceremony in Las Vegas
must watch
WHAT? Celebrity Crystal Maze, Channel 4, 8pm.
WHY? Worth a look if only to see contestant Ann Widdecombe trying to negotiate the tricky physical tasks. She is joined by Wes Nelson and Matthew Wright.
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soapbox
IN NEIGHBOURS, Roxy discovers David’s secret plan. Kyle makes Chloe face up to her feelings about Pierce and Gary admits that he does not want a baby.
IN HOME And Away, John and Marilyn come to a decision about Jett.
Elsewhere, Ben is still furious with Justin for his part in covering up Brody’s affair.
MEANWHILE, in Hollyoaks, Mercedes receives a threatening message on her phone. Plus, Maxine puts Damon’s dreams for the wedding before her own and Marnie gives James some much-needed home truths about his behaviour.
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