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Davina McCall Stays at The Old Palace

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News Release

23rd April 2012

TV presenter Davina McCall stayed at The Old Palace in Lincoln recently whilst filming the new series of the tear-jerking show Long Lost Family which traces and reunites family members who have been separated for most of their lives.

In episode three of series two of Long Lost Family, which will be broadcast on ITV 1 on Thursday 26th April, 58-year-old Peter Arundel, who grew up in Lofthouse Gate, West Yorkshire, is reunited with his birth mother Elsie Brockbank from Lincoln..

Manager Sonja Brockman said Davina was one of the first guests to stay in The Old Palace after it started operating as a hotel: “The Old Palace caters for weddings and conferences and until recently the 16 beautifully decorated bedrooms had only been available to groups.

“In March we started operating as a hotel offering luxurious accommodation to individuals as well as groups and we were delighted that Davina and the team behind Long Lost Family chose to stay with us while they were filming in the city.

“The Old Palace is in a fantastic location in a secret corner of Lincoln’s Cathedral Quarter and offers guests a high standard of comfort and service in exceptionally peaceful and elegant surroundings.”

The Old Palace was also used as set location for some on the filming although the reunion was arranged at the mother and baby home in Lincoln where Elsie gave birth to Peter over half a century ago.

Elsie gave birth to Peter out of wedlock aged 17. His father was an American airman whom she had been going out with for quite some time, and although he initially said he would marry Elsie, she never saw him again because he had a wife and two children in America.

With strict parents who offered no understanding of Elsie’s predicament, she was left with two choices: either an abortion or the ‘naughty girls’ home’ – the mother and baby home where she stayed until she had him.

Elsie had no contact with Peter from that day on, not even a photo to remember her son by.

Talking about being reunited with her son Elsie said: “It’s amazing, I’ve never know anything like it. Giving birth is magic but to be given a second chance is wonderful. I’m so pleased it happened here (at the mother and baby home) where he was taken from me and given back to me, it’s completed the circle. I’ve got my family back.”

According to Davina the reunion between Peter and Elsie was one of her highlights of the series.

“Peter and his mum Elsie have a five-minute no speaking hug,” she explained. “I kept thinking ‘they’re going to speak soon, they’re going to speak soon’ but they didn’t, they just carried on hugging.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Long Lost Family

The Old Palace

  • The Old Palace was built next to the site of the Lincoln Medieval Bishops’ Palace, which was the administrative centre of the largest diocese in medieval England, in three phases between 1720 and 1885.
  • A major refurbishment was completed in 2009, restoring the building in sympathy with its various period interiors, whilst creating a comfortable and elegant environment. The Old Palace re-opened its doors to the public offering beautiful surroundings for meeting, conferences, private dining and wedding receptions.
  • In July 2012 a further 16 guest rooms will become available in the nearby Victorian former church of St Michael on the Mount which is currently being converted to the same standards as the main building.
  • The ruins of the Medieval Bishops’ Palace are separate from The Old Palace itself and are managed by English Heritage on a guardianship lease from the Diocese of Lincoln.

Kate Strawson
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
kate@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @shootingstarpr

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West Yorkshire Lincoln The Old Palace Long Lost Family Davina McCall Lincoln Medieval Bishops Palace

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Quick facts

The Old Palace was built next to the site of the Lincoln Medieval Bishops’ Palace, which was the administrative centre of the largest diocese in medieval England, in three phases between 1720 and 1885.
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A major refurbishment was completed in 2009, restoring the building in sympathy with its various period interiors, whilst creating a comfortable and elegant environment. The Old Palace re-opened its doors to the public offering beautiful surroundings for meeting, conferences, private dining and wedding receptions.
Tweet this
In March 2012 The Old Palace started operating as a boutique hotel. A further 16 guest rooms will become available in July in the nearby Victorian former church of St Michael on the Mount which is currently being converted to the same standards as the main building.
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Quotes

The Old Palace caters for weddings and conferences and until recently the 16 beautifully decorated bedrooms had only been available to groups. In March we started operating as a hotel offering luxurious accommodation to individuals as well as groups and we were delighted that Davina and the team behind Long Lost Family chose to stay with us while they were filming in the city.
Manager of The Old Palace in Lincoln Sonja Brockman
Peter and his mum Elsie have a five-minute no speaking hug. I kept thinking ‘they’re going to speak soon, they’re going to speak soon’ but they didn’t, they just carried on hugging.
Davina McCall