Tearful Brian Blessed overcome as he discovers 'real-life Oliver Twist' in the family

Blessed said he was terribly moved to hear about the entrepreneurial youngster, whom he called a lad after my own heart.

Wiping away a tear as he stood at Jabezs graveside, he said: I dont think Ive ever cried in my life. Never cried, not even as a baby.

Im proud to have found you. I had a really great, great-grandfather.

Blessed family history was uncovered by researchers on the BBCs Who Do You Think You Are?, who looked into his paternal line from his home in south Yorkshire.

They located his great-great-great-grandfather, Barnabus Blessed, as a relatively wealthy bookbinder in early 1800s London, before making a disastrous move to Portsmouth.

Brian Blessed's parents with Brian (BBC/ Derek Ford)

Recorded as a pauper and father of four, he and his wife both died in their early 40s, leaving their children as orphans.

As paupers, the four children were expelled from the parish just three days later and sent back to London, where the St Martins in the Fields parish were legally bound to care for them.

They entered the workhouse, where they were split up and housed in separate wards.

Martha, aged 14, is described as an idiot, suggesting she suffered learning difficulties. She died a week after entering the workhouse. Elizabeth, her 22-month-old sister, died shortly afterwards.

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Tearful Brian Blessed overcome as he discovers 'real-life Oliver Twist' in the family