Family nearly torn apart by mother’s ‘lies and deceit’

A family were left heartbroken when they discovered a family secret kept hidden for years by their mother.

Trena and Laurence had spent their entire lives believing they were full brother and sister and shared the same father, Clive, who left shortly after Trena was born – but they weren’t prepared for the truth uncovered in The Secrets in my Family.

The presenter of the show, Alex Jones, had to deliver a shocking bombshell to a distraught Trena, revealing that she and Laurence were only half-siblings, and that Clive was not in fact her father as she’d grown up believing.

Admitting she had suspected the truth all along, Trena then broke down in tears, slamming her mother for lying for so many years.

‘I knew it though. She must have known it. It’s the lies. She must know,’ she wept as she asked cameras to stop filming. 

Laurence and Trena had believed they were full brother and sister, and shared the same father but they were shocked to learn the truth

Although the family had been heartbroken over the discovery, Trena still went to meet Clive with her half-brother Laurence

Although the family had been heartbroken over the discovery, Trena still went to meet Clive with her half-brother Laurence

‘I have been lied to all these years,’ she added.

Their older sibling Jean, who had joined her family to offer moral support, was equally shocked.

She fumed: ‘The lies that have been told and the deceit that has gone on could have split us all apart. But we’re lucky that we are stronger than that.’

Laurence, who was initially hesitant about searching for his father, said he expected to unearth shocking details in his family’s past, but said: ‘I didn’t think that was going to be one of them.’

The show helps families discover details about their history with the help of a pioneering DNA test and a team of DNA experts to uncover truths. 

Clive had vanished when Trena was just one, and she was determined to find the man she believed was her father and build a relationship with him for the sake of her children.

Trena had explained to host Alex how she and her brother did not have a healthy relationship with their mother, and as such were struggling to find out any information about Clive.

‘She is not forthcoming with all the information,’ she explained. 

‘But obviously he must have been with her for quite a while because there are five years between me and my brother Laurence.’

Presenter Alex Jones had met with Trena to discuss her family history, as she shared details about her strained relationship with her mother

Presenter Alex Jones had met with Trena to discuss her family history, as she shared details about her strained relationship with her mother

Laurence said that while he was expecting shocks he wasn't prepared to learn that Trena wasn't his full sister

Laurence said that while he was expecting shocks he wasn’t prepared to learn that Trena wasn’t his full sister

After first meeting with the siblings Alex, had gingerly broached the subject of whether they’d considered the possibility they were not full brother and sister – and they agreed to undergo a DNA test.  

As they grappled to absorb the news, Alex then told the pair that Clive had been found, and both Trena and Laurence both decided to go ahead and meet with him.

Trena told the man she always thought was her father: ‘I was prepared for rejection, but I wasn’t prepared for that.’

An emotional Clive claimed he didn’t remember why he left his son and Trena, who he added he had ‘always thought of as my own’.

Laurence was thrilled to meet his father and they all embraced during their reunion, they have since gone on to meet up several times

Laurence was thrilled to meet his father and they all embraced during their reunion, they have since gone on to meet up several times

She happily accepted his offer of being a father figure to her, and woefully added: ‘I know he’s not my biological father but at the end of the day he’s the nearest I’ve ever had  – and the nearest I’m ever going to have.’

Clive reflected on the meeting: ‘I felt I had missed out. But it’s not their fault that’s mine. 

‘I’m glad I have been given a second chance I don’t deserve it and I just hope that my health holds out long enough so I can enjoy them and their family.’ 

The Secrets In My Family is on Mondays at 9pm on UKTV’s W Channel  

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