Becky Walsh shares her remarkable DNA discovery story on BBC Radio Bristol
Becky Walsh, a comedian, writer, and personal development coach from Weston-super-Mare, joined BBC Radio Bristol’s John Darvall to share a jaw-dropping personal story: at the age of 51, she discovered that the man she believed to be her father wasn’t biologically related to her at all.
And it all began with a DNA test she took on a whim, just to prove a friend wrong.
“I was trying to show a friend that you can’t tell if someone has ADHD from a DNA test,” Becky explained. “I didn’t even have my glasses on when I ordered it on my phone. It was never about finding family secrets.”
But three weeks later, the results landed and with them, a message from a man in Australia who shared a significant chunk of her DNA. The man, a genealogy enthusiast, couldn’t quite work out how they were connected, and his persistence eventually sparked a chain of events that would upend Becky’s understanding of her identity.
What followed was a surreal phone call from a woman named Laura who introduced herself as Becky’s sister.
“I assumed she was from the side of the family I already knew,” Becky recalled. “But then she said something about where my mum used to work, and I thought: how does a stranger know that?”
It was only when Becky asked outright “Are you telling me the man I thought was my dad… isn’t?” that the penny dropped.
Nature meets nurture
The revelation unlocked a whole new family. Becky discovered she had a biological father still alive, a sister, a brother—and shockingly, they all had a striking amount in common with her. From fast-talking and stage work to similar life experiences, career choices, and even travel destinations, the connection was immediate and uncanny.
“Within moments, Laura and I were finishing each other’s sentences. She’d been a stage manager; that was my first job. She trained as a counsellor; I’m qualifying this year. It was like a parallel universe.”
When Becky finally spoke to her biological father, Peter, the warmth and recognition were instant.
“The first thing he said was, ‘Hi Becky, it’s Peter, I’m your dad. Bet you’ve got some questions.’ And I made a joke, as I do, and we just started laughing. There was this joy, this connection. He even said, ‘That’s my girl.’ It broke me in the best way.”
A conversation with her mum
Of course, Becky had to have a difficult conversation with her mother—who, to her credit, confirmed the story and admitted she’d started “counting dates” when the DNA test was first mentioned.
“I think memory is slippery,” Becky reflected. “We rewrite things. I don’t think she hid it maliciously it was just something that faded into the past. But hearing her admit it… it was a moment.”
Rewriting the map
The experience hasn’t just shifted Becky’s family tree, it’s redefined her identity.
“I’m not a Walsh. That name I’ve had for 50 years isn’t mine. The Irish heritage I thought I had isn’t real. Your story changes. Your memories get rewritten. It’s like tectonic plates shifting beneath you.”
Despite the emotional upheaval, Becky sees her DNA discovery as overwhelmingly positive.
“I didn’t grow up with a dad. I now have one. And he’s proud of me. I’ve gained a sister, a brother, nieces, nephews, this whole vibrant, loving family. It’s surreal, but it’s beautiful.”
As for her original family, Becky’s clear that she still values those bonds, even if the biological link has shifted.
“My mum, my brother, we’ve been through a lot. My feet are still up on their sofa. But I’m more like my new family. My nature finally fits.”
