Who Do You Think You Are: Amanda Holden fans 'cry their hearts out' over grandad's suicide
AMANDA HOLDEN'S "terribly sad" family history had Who Do You Think You Are? viewers in tears last night, and everyone was talking about her late grandfather.
Who Do You Think You Are Amanda Holden Lancastria grandad suicide
Amanda Holden discusses her grandfather's suicide
The Britain's Got Talent judge found out her paternal grandad, Frank Holden, survived the sinking of the RMS Lancastria by German bombers in 1940.
The 45-year-old's relative worked as a psychiatric nurse in the Royal Army Medical Corps before committing suicide later in life.
Amanda was shocked to learn that her father's dad helped others through the tragic shipwreck, which left more than 4,000 dead.
The harrowing incident - the single worst single disaster in British maritime history - was brought to life by the vessel's youngest survivor Jacqueline Tanner during the programme.
Who Do You Think You Are fans were in tears tonight over Amanda Holden's story
Amanda Holden's grandad committed suicide
Terribly sad about the Lancastria. RIP all those souls.
Many took to Twitter to discuss the tragic events, and with user writing: "Just cried my heart out about Amanda Holden on BBC omg it got me big time. So much stuff in family life I have had."(sic)
Another person agreed: "Amanda Holden's #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre is excellent TV. The #Lancastria segment is very moving."
"Feeling totes emosh after learning about the #lancastrian on #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre with @AmandaHolden,"(sic) a third wrote.
Amanda Holden with the youngest survivor of the Lancastria
Who Do You Think You Are: Amanda Holden's relative went on to become a nurse
A final tweet mentioned other sections of her genealogy: "Lucky Amanda Holden discovering a French vineyard in her family. Terribly sad about the Lancastria. RIP all those souls. #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre."
Earlier in the show, Amanda had uncovered a French bloodline through her five-times great grandad Collin Thomas, who married a French woman from Bordeaux.
The actress was very excited to learn there was a vineyard in her history, as well as footwear - Collin was a shoemaker by trade.
Who Do You Think You Are? continues next Thursday with Liz Bonnin at 8pm on BBC One.