John Simm, known for his role in Doctor Who, was taken aback by the revelation that his father was not his biological parent. In an upcoming episode of ITV’s DNA Journey featuring Simm, he learned that his late father, musician Ronald Simm, was not his real father. Instead, John discovered that his biological father was a man named Terence Naylor.
Terence Naylor, originally from Featherstone in West Yorkshire, passed away in 1998. John also found out he has a half-sister. As reported by Metro, Simm’s mother revealed to him that she and Ronald Simm had separated briefly before his conception. The actor expressed his shock at the news, stating:
“It spun my world and everything I thought I knew wasn’t real in a way.”
“I’m glad my Dad isn’t alive to see this”- John Simm on discovering that Ronald Simm was not his biological dad
In a Telegraph article from September 30, it was revealed that Simm was stunned by his heritage discovery on DNA Journey. In the first episode of the fifth season, Simm and his Life on Mars co-star Philip Glenister chose to trace their family trees.
According to an October 1 article from Metro, both actors underwent DNA testing three months before filming. John admitted participating in the show was a favor to his close friend Glenister, who didn’t want to undertake the journey alone. Prior to the test, Simm had an extensive discussion with his mother.
Ronald Simm, whom John believed to be his biological father, passed away in 2015. John was conceived in the 1960s when his parents were still quite young. His mother disclosed, for the first time, that she and Ronald had briefly split before he was conceived and were seeing others before reuniting.
John’s mother recounted a doctor’s visit where she sought clarity on the timing of her pregnancy, and the doctor assured her that the dates were consistent. However, both were shocked when the DNA results came back. As shared on the show, Simm said:
“And then this revelation came out. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the DNA results came back and my dad is not my dad.”
Due to his close bond with Ronald, John found it hard to accept the results. He reflected:
“Out of everybody in my family, I was always closest to my Dad. When I was younger, we used to go round clubs playing guitar and singing, so I’m glad my Dad isn’t alive to see this, because I’m sure he’d be shocked and upset by it as well. He was my Dad.”
John Simm’s biological father, Terence Naylor, passed away in 1998 when John was 28. The actor shared that growing up, he always sensed something made him different from his family but struggled to identify it.
Similar to Ronald Simm, who was abandoned as a child and raised in an orphanage, Terence was born to a 16-year-old mother just before his father went off to World War II. Naylor was adopted and raised by his aunt.
Naylor had three marriages, resulting in John having a half-sister named Karen, born three years before him from his first marriage. Terence Naylor frequented working men’s clubs, leading John to wonder if their paths ever crossed, as both he and Ronald performed on stage in similar venues.
During this episode of DNA Journey, John met his half-sister Karen in Yorkshire, who was unaware of his existence. Karen shared family photographs and pointed out the striking resemblance between John Simm and Terence Naylor, particularly in their eyes.
The episode featuring John Simm and Philip Glenister will be broadcast on Wednesday, October 9, on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player.
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