Amy Dowden fights back tears as she discovers her ancestor was murdered aged 14 on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are

Amy Dowden was left stunned as she discovered her ancestor was murdered aged 14 on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are on Tuesday night.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 35, was the latest star to appear on the show and quickly turned on her detective skills after learning of a murder in the family.

During the episode, Amy revealed a 17-year-old boy shot and killed Amy’s three-times great aunt Elinor (Nellie) when she was just a teen on a farm in 1888.

Amy fought back tears as she discovered the revelation, before heading to the place where she was murdered.

Elinor had a Welsh valley named after her Cwm Nell in West Wales to keep her memory alive.

Amy Dowden was left stunned as she discovered her ancestor was murdered aged 14 on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are on Tuesday night

During the episode, Amy revealed a 17-year-old boy shot and killed Amy’s three-times great aunt Elinor (Nellie) when she was just a teen on a farm in 1888

In the show, Amy visited a distant cousin called Wayne who had been tracing back the family’s history for many years. 

Amy said: ‘I was nervous in what we were going to find, but also at the same side, you can’t change your past, does that make sense, your family history?

‘I think I was more intrigued. I really loved having to like do detective work and go there and try and figure out. 

‘But then finding out about amazing Nellie and that she’s got a valley named after her and her legacy will continue and live on.

‘We always knew about this suspicious murder in the family, but we never knew about the valley. 

‘We never knew about the circumstances. My parents have since gone and visited and gone to all the places I went. It’s just been really eye-opening.

‘I also really enjoyed learning, and that process of finding out every element of the story and trying to piece it all together.

‘It was very different to my ordinary normal day of dancing, should I say. Very different.’

In the show, Amy visited a distant cousin called Wayne who had been tracing back the family’s history for many years

Amy fought back tears as she discovered the revelation, before heading to the place where she was murdered

When she visited the courthouse in Camarthen where Offle Owen, the man responsible for Nellie’s death, was tried, Amy learned that he was found not guilty of manslaughter.

She said: ‘At the beginning I was a bit confused by that, but I think like when you learn about it, it does look like it was an accident. 

‘He was a young boy himself and you learn that the families had reconciled later down the line. From what I can see now, it was an accident, and you know, bless Nellie’s life was already taken. He already had to live with what he did.’

Amy joked: ‘It’s almost a bit like a soap opera, isn’t it?’