Series 7 of Long Lost Family concluded back in September of last year with an emotional episode in keeping with the rest of the series. We rounded off another great series by reuniting Derek with his long lost little brother and by helping Ann, who was adopted at birth, to answer many of the questions she had carried around since childhood.

Derek and his half brother Julian’s meeting, after more than 70 years apart, was all the sweeter now that Julian is living in Philadelphia, USA. Julian made the three and a half thousand mile journey to meet his big brother in an East London pub close to where their mother lived during the war. They are very much a part of each other’s lives now, feeling a great sense of fulfilment and closeness after being reunited on the show.

Ann had always felt different from her adoptive family, often landing her in trouble at school. She knew she was adopted and 20 years ago set out to find her birth parents. With just a name, Ariel and the LLF team were able to track down Denise, Ann’s birth mother, as well as a half sister called Delina. Sadly, Denise had passed away three years ago, but reuniting Ann with her 4 half sisters helped to answer some of the questions she had grown up with.

Even before series 7 had wrapped, Ariel and her team were hard at work on the stories that will make up series 8. With many more long lost family members to reunite, the work never stops. There is no official release date for series eight yet, but you can be rest assured that it will be the same emotional rollercoaster you’ve come to know and love. Watch this space!