Long Lost Family finds Davina McCall holding back the tears

Breaking the news proved almost too much for Davina McCall.

With three series of reunion show Long Lost Family under their belts, and a fourth set to hit screens tomorrow, presenters Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell are experts at fighting back the tears.

But one tale on the Bafta-winning ITV show even had the ever-professional Davina “in tatters”.

It was series two, where Maureen, from Liverpool, wanted to track down the mother who had walked out on her as a toddler. The show’s producers discovered that, not only was Maureen’s mother dead, she had a half-brother and sister who had also been abandoned.

Breaking the news proved almost too much for Davina, whose own mum left when she was three, and with whom she had a difficult relationship until her death in 2008.

“I’m going to start crying talking about it,” the former Big Brother presenter confesses as she recalls her visit to Maureen’s home.

“Before I even went into her house, I was sitting crying in the car,” Davina, 46, explains. “It all caved in, but I managed to pull myself together for Maureen.”

Series four makes for equally emotional viewing. In episode one, we see a Hampshire-based woman track down the son she gave up for adoption more than 40 years ago.

Despite their easy rapport, Davina doesn’t get to spend much time with Nicky during filming one presenter meets the person looking for their relative, while the other is with the person who’s been tracked down.

The hosts text each other about how things are going, and meet up when they are filming a reunion between family members.

“It’s like being with the bride and the groom on a wedding day Nicky getting excited with his side and me getting excited with mine,” Davina says.

Long Lost Family, ITV1, Monday.