Julian Delange Who Reunited With Half-Brother After More Than 70 Years Apart Dies

The most recent episode of Long Lost Family will pay a special tribute to two half-brothers who were reunited after being apart for 70 years because one of the men, Julian Delange, sadly passed away the day before the show aired.

Host Nicky Campbell revealed the devastating news on Twitter.

He says: "He and his brother found each other after more than 70 years and became very close. The family have requested the programme goes ahead. We dedicate it to Julian who was a sweet man and a gentleman.

"I am proud to have known him."

His brother, Derek, found out about his half-brother when he and his wife, Jackie, were expecting their first child. Derek's mum, Freda, revealed to Jackie about the secret sibling, who was given up for adoption because he was a conceived through an affair.

Credit: ITV

Jackie says: "I was really amazed. I just feel she felt the need to tell somebody and especially me, being six months pregnant, brought back the memories."

That caused Derek to seek out his long-lost half-brother, but he held off until his father, who was furious that Freda cheated on him during World War Two, died.

Derek says: "I was shocked because it had been kept very quiet - totally and utterly shocked.

"But then I thought that this is somebody of my blood and a brother I would have loved and I was absolutely delighted."

Long Lost Family host Nicky Campbell. Credit: PA

The show Long Lost Family managed to track down his half-brother, Julian, who had emigrated to Canada in the 1960s, however, he was spending the majority of his time in America.

He couldn't believe Derek put in so much effort to find him, saying: "I'm on my final chapter and it makes that final chapter a lot easier to live and gives me a source of great happiness.

"To be part of a family again is a wonderful feeling."

The pair met at a pub in London and had a lot of catching up to do after spending more than 70 years apart.

While it's sad that Julian has passed away, it's good to know that he had some time to reunite with Derek.

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: Television, World War Two, ITV, UK

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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