Ralf Little is on the ball as he takes a deep dive into his family history
The actor and semi-pro footballer discovers he has links to a former Welsh international and a cotton trader on Who Do You Think You Are?
Despite his recent success in Death in Paradise, for some people, Ralf Little will always be Antony from The Royle Family.
Featuring in genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? may be his chance to shake off his sitcom alter ego as he digs into the roots of his real-life family tree.
It’s a journey that takes him to the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland to find out more about his grandfather Arthur’s experiences during the Second World War.
Ralf is also keen to investigate a family rumour that he is linked to a Welsh international footballer, and is thrilled when it’s confirmed to be true. There’s another happy discovery when the actor returns to his native Manchester to learn about the key role his four-times greatgrandfather played in the city’s industrial development. Ralf has always managed to fit in playing semiprofessional football between his acting commitments and modestly admits to being “y’know, a decent player”. But now the star has discovered where his silky skills came from – his great-grandad, who played for Wales as centre forward more than 100 years ago.
Albert Lockley also played for Chirk FC in North Wales, scoring in the final when they won the 1894 Welsh Cup. After discovering he is descended from a football hero the, 42-year-old says: “This is a big cup final. This has absolutely made my day.
“I’m genuinely delighted to read about my great-grandad winning this cup and scoring.”
He finds out about Albert as he researches his mum’s side of the family tree.
Ralf, who has played for Edgware Town and Maidstone United, as well as in charity matches such as the Game 4 Grenfell, says: “I’ve always been a decent player but I never
quite knew where it has come from.”
Things take a surprising turn for Ralf when he learns that Albert quit football with “a sensational denouncement” in 1904 as a religious revival spread through Wales.
Ralf says: “So he gave up playing football for religion? I can’t begin to tell you, as an atheist, how upsetting that is to me.
“What a twist. What a twist. Did not see that coming. I am disappointed. I am. I’m kind of heartbroken.”
On the same side of his family, Ralf’s grandad Arthur Bailey was on the first British ship to be hit by a kamikaze pilot during the Second World War, in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.
Arthur was on aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable when a Japanese suicide pilot’s plane smashed into the flightdeck and killed more than a dozen crew.
Says Ralf: “He faced hardship a lot and just took it. I wish I’d asked him about it now. I wish I got to know him better. I guess I never realised that there was that much to talk about.”
Researching his father’s side of the family tree, Ralf learns that stories about a “whiff of poshness” are well-founded as his four-times great-grandad John Wollam was a rich cotton trader, property owner and political figure.
I wish I’d asked him about it now. I wish I got to know him better. I guess I never realised that there was that much to talk about... Ralf on his grandfather’s war experiences
Who Do You Think You Are? is on BBC1, Thursday June 30 at 9pm