Patti Newton has described the experience of filming the SBS series Who Do You Think You Are? as incredibly emotional, after she uncovered some dark family secrets.
The show uncovered a high-profile murder of a child on her Dad’s side several generations ago, that she had no idea about.
The 73-year-old grandmother told TV WEEK she knew little about her father’s family history, so that made doing the show incredibly moving and something she will never forget.
“It’s funny how it affects you,” she says.
“I think when the show finished, I felt very drained because I had gone through a lot,” she continues. “But I was so thrilled I did it. I’ve become very emotional about it and I think I will take it to my grave.
“My Dad died when I was in my twenties, and I’m sure he knew nothing about his family history. Like me, he would have felt sadness and empathy.”
Patti filmed the SBS hit show over a year ago, and initially producers had their eye on her husband Bert.
“Bert was asked to do it first, but he was a bit sick at the time and usually there is a lot of travel involved so he said no, and he didn’t think anymore of it,” she says.
“Then I was asked and I jumped at it. I’ve always been interested in family history, I’m a family person.
“Being an only child, I wanted to know more about Mum and Dad’s life.
“My Mum I knew a little about because she was one of 10 children, but my Dad I knew absolutely nothing about.”
After everything she has done in her long career in show business, Patti says this is right up there when it comes to a career highlight.
“It was very different, not like anything I’ve done before, but it is very high on the list of the best things I’ve ever done,” she says.
Patti says she will watch the show with her family, and she feels incredibly lucky about how her – and her family’s life – has turned out.
“I think the show is a great thing for my grandchildren, and probably other members of the family, who really don’t know much about our history.
“Just to have that insight of how lucky we are to have ended up where we are, because of how tough it was for my Dad’s family, what a tough life they had.”
Who Do You Think You Are airs Tuesday, 7:30pm on SBS
