Marmalade sandwiches might be in order for Kate Garraway from now on after discovering she is related to Paddington Bear's author. The Good Morning Britain host found out she has a family link to Michael Bond during an episode of ITV's DNA Journey, which airs tomorrow night (October 6), during which she also visited Bristol.
Kate met Karen Jankel, Bond's daughter, as part of the show, with it revealed they have the same three times great-grandparent. During an emotional meeting at Paddington Station, where the famous fictional bear first turned up in London, Karen said she wanted to introduce Kate, 55, to her "famous brother", going onto whip out a stuffed toy Paddington.
Karen told Kate: "Paddington and I grew up together. The reason is that my father was Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington, which means that of course you are also related to Michael Bond."
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Speaking after finding out she was related to Bond, Kate said: "It was always my absolute favourite growing up. It has been said to me over the years that I do have a touch of Paddington Bear about me and that is because without meaning to he does cause an extraordinary amount of chaos."
Discussing more about the impact Paddington had on family life growing up, Karen said to Kate: "He was always part of my family. He is so real to our family, and now to your family too, because he is a member of the family.
"He used to sit on the table at meal times and my father used to talk to him and talk through him to us. Of course, I never knew anything else because he was always around."
During their chat, Karen also showed Kate a first edition copy of A Bear Called Paddington, the first book featuring the character, which was signed by her dad. Bond published more than 20 Paddington books before his death in 2017 at the age of 91.
Elsewhere in the show, Kate also visits Bristol with fellow TV presenter Alison Hammond to hear about Frederick Lambert, who lived and worked as a photographer in the city during the 1840s.
DNA Journey airs on ITV tomorrow at 9pm.
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