became emotional after discovering her family history on
In an upcoming episode of the popular series, Emily delves into her past with the help of the show’s experts.
During upsetting scenes, Emily discovers that her great-great-grandfather took his own life at her current age – 33.
Around 1886, her ancestor Joseph Atack was in charge of miners’ safety at South Yorkshire’s Nostell Colliery.
In a tragic accident, a 36-year-old man was crushed when the cage used to transport miners underground dragged him along.
An investigation summarised that it had been an ‘accidental killing,’ and the miner had put his own life at risk by purposely jumping on the machinery, reports
Three years later, Joseph jumped into a river and drowned, seemingly unable to come to terms with the workplace accident. The publication reported that Joseph was concerned he would get convicted of manslaughter.
He was survived by his wife, also called Emily, and their five children.
‘Oh, my God. That is horrifically sad,’ she is said to have responded.
Emily revealed her dad’s side of the family is ‘sensitive’ after hearing about the family history.
‘If you gave a signal and it cost someone their life, you would never get over something like that,’ Emily said.
‘He didn’t just lose his mind quickly – there’s sadness and depression, and anxiety and worry and panic. These feelings build and you’re trapped in them.
‘There was no help back then. I’ve struggled with mental health but I’ve had the help of therapists and doctors.’
The Inbetweeners actress and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here finalist has previously spoken honestly about her struggles with mental health.
‘I definitely have days where I struggle to get out of bed. Doesn’t everyone?’ she told in 2019.
She also talked about seeing a therapist and taking anti-depressants: ‘I used medication to get me out of bed in the morning during an incredibly tough time and to dry up my tears, but I’m not in that place any more. I was on them for three years on the advice of my doctor rather than my therapist.
‘I’m stronger now and the therapy has given me tools to cope with what life throws at me.’
Later in the episode, she finds out Emily remarried and visits the church where the ceremony took place. It is also the location of Joseph’s burial.
‘There’s no place I could feel more connected to,’ she stated.
Emily Atack’s Who Do You Think You Are? episode is set to air Thursday on BBC1 at 9pm.
