Teary Ricky Tomlinson hailed a ‘spectacular human’ as he slams inequality on Who Do You Think You Are?
The actor blasted the living conditions of his ancestors on the BBC ancestry show
RICKY Tomlinson was hailed a "spectacular human being" after getting teary during a passionate rant about his ancestors' struggle with poverty on Who Do You Think You Are.
The Royle Family actor blasted inequality and the class divide in 1900's Liverpool which saw his great, great grandfather William Tomlinson and his wife Mary, along with their six kids, squashed into a house of eleven - with just one bathroom between them.
On tonight's BBC One show Ricky, a political activist, dabbed tears from his eyes as he raged: "It's absolutely scandalous.
"Land of Hope and Glory - my arse!"
He then quipped: "I have four toilets in my house," before adding: "How can you get upset about something that happened 150 years ago?
"But I am, I am so angry.
"They are getting by on pauper's poverty while Liverpool is booming"
During his journey back into his family tree, the Liverpool TV star then learned William died, leaving Mary to raise their children alone.
Records then showed two of her children were classed as "deserted by mother" which he then learned meant she was forced to send them to an industrial school as she was too poor to look after them.
After marrying a second time - which an expert said could have been her way to secure cash to raise her family - she later died of a stroke.
As the episode aired this evening, fans quickly took to Twitter to heap praise on the TV funnyman.
One bluntly wrote: "Ricky Tomlinson is a spectacular human being.";
Another added: "Ricky Tomlinson is the someone who I could disagree politically but I'll always respect because he stands up for his views properly," while one posted: "I'm loving Ricky Tomlinson's episode. What a great guy."
A touched viewer wrote: "Ricky Tomlinson's Who Do You Think You Are is heartbreaking. A very interesting history of Liverpool though," while one showed empathy and posted: "Experiencing similar shock to me when I discovered appalling conditions my family endured in 19thC."
Another referred to Ricky's quote on the show and put: "Land of hope & glory, my arse" says Ricky Tomlinson about something tht happnd 150 yrs ago & is still happening today. We r going backwards."
One viewer kept it short and sweet and wrote: "I bloody adore Ricky Tomlinson ."
Many fans were left glued to their screens and one wrote: "Ricky Tomlinson's is utterly fascinating. Interesting insight into working class life in the past. Truly humbling."
Another regular viewer added: "Enjoyed Cheryl last week, but good to see Ricky Tomlinson passionately engaging with his forebears' experiences."
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Summing up his experiences on the show, Ricky said: "It's been an amazing journey - I've laughed, cried, been angry and upset.
"They (his family) were grafters, they were workers.
"They worked on the docks day in, day out, they were classed as the lowest of the low yet they started unions and got rid of the religious divide.
"The women made something out of nothing and they carried on going.
"I am so proud of them all.
"I love this city, I love the people and I don't want to live anywhere else."