Mel C Reflects on Family History and Activism in BBC Documentary

In a poignant episode of BBC's *Who Do You Think You Are?*, Mel C, the 50-year-old Spice Girl, uncovered her family's harrowing history during the Great Famine in Ireland, which left a profound impact on her. The singer revealed that she was moved to tears multiple times as she learned about her ancestors' struggles for survival and their subsequent rise as political activists. "Finding out about my family's history with activism and their experiences during the Great Famine was eye-opening," she shared. The Great Famine, which began in 1845 due to a devastating potato blight, forced Mel's ancestors, Patrick and Catherine, to leave their home and become "landless labourers" in Limerick City before migrating to Liverpool in 1855. This migration was part of a larger exodus of Irish families seeking better opportunities amidst widespread starvation. Mel reflected on the resilience of her family, stating, "Without my family fighting for their survival through the generations, I wouldn’t be here at all." On her maternal side, Mel discovered the story of her four-times great-grandfather, Thomas Keef, who overcame a challenging upbringing as an orphan in a workhouse to become a baker and later an insurance manager. His involvement in the Reform Movement highlighted the family's commitment to social change, a legacy that Mel feels continues in her own life. She expressed pride in her family's history of standing up for their beliefs, stating, "I like to think I have some of that in me too."