'Finding out I'm related to Toby Jones is crazy'

A pottery museum's curator who found out he was related to actor Toby Jones while filming for a BBC One show described it as a "crazy coincidence".

Ben Miller, who works at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-on-Trent, appeared in Thursday's edition of Who Do You Think You Are? as it explored Jones's ancestry.

The show followed the Bafta-winning actor to the site as he learned about saggar makers – the occupation of his great-grandfather Henry Jones, who lived in Fenton. Saggars are the heavy, fire-resistant ceramic boxes used in traditional pottery kilns.

During the programme, Miller revealed to Jones the pair were third cousins, once removed, on Miller's mother's side of the family.

"Uncovering that in the show has helped with our own family history as well," Miller told BBC Radio Stoke. "It's a crazy coincidence but a nice one."

Miller said there was no inkling of any connection between them when the production company contacted Gladstone and asked if it could film at the site.

He found out later when his mum showed him a letter she received from the same company, which revealed a link between the Leese, her maiden name, and the Jones families.

"I put two-and-two together and thought this was just too much of a coincidence, so when they came on the day of filming, I revealed this," he added.

"They did a little bit of checking and said 'oh my god, I think you're related'. We were able to do that reveal to Toby on camera.

"We didn't tell Toby before we started filming and I was able to basically say 'you're talking to me as the ceramics curator but I happen to be your third cousin once removed'. It was a great day of filming."

As well as exploring his links to Stoke-on-Trent, Jones spent the programme checking out the acting dynasty on his mother's side as well as his family's links to India, where his great-great grandfather was stationed with the British Army.

Miller said the experience with Jones had helped to confirm rumours of connections his family had to India as well.

"We've since stayed in touch via email, obviously he's a big Stoke City fan, as am I," Miller added.

"I live in hope that one day we'll get to meet up again, maybe when he comes to watch Stoke City or something."

Known for roles in Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Detectorists and Indiana Jones, the actor still has links to his Potteries roots, partly as patron of Claybody Theatre.

He also portrayed former Stoke City kit man and circus clown Neil Baldwin, known as Nello, in the 2014 Bafta-winning BBC film Marvellous.

His father, Freddie Jones, was born in Dresden and worked at the British Ceramics Research Association in Penkhull before going on to become an acclaimed actor.

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