![\"Paula](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_long_lost_family_sr2_ep2_10.jpg\")
Paula Cottrell was searching for her son Paul Clarke on Long Lost Family(Image: ITV)<\/p>\nPaul grew up in Walton Village and recently reconnected with his birth mum<\/p>\n
19:36, 25 Sep 2025Updated 19:36, 25 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
Paula Cottrell was searching for her son Paul Clarke on Long Lost Family(Image: ITV)<\/p>\n
A man from Liverpool met his mum for the first time and he immediately knew: “I’m definitely yours”. Paul, a 45-year-old university lecturer, reconnects with his birth mum in tonight’s episode of<\/a> Long Lost Family. The ITV show returned to screens last week for a jam-packed 15th series.<\/a><\/p>\n Presented by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell, the popular ITV<\/a> programme sees people trying to find their lost relatives after years apart.<\/a> As part of the upcoming series, Davina and Nicky<\/a> meet with Paul and his birth mum Paula after living separate lives for almost 45 years.<\/p>\n Mum Paula, 64, grew up in Liverpool and had a difficult childhood as her parents were heavy drinkers. At 19, she became pregnant, and her boyfriend disappeared. She was worried of bringing her child home to her chaotic family life and she decided early on that she should place her child for adoption.<\/a><\/p>\n In 1980, she gave birth to a boy she called Lee and he was placed into care after just two days. Paula was heartbroken. A few weeks later, a couple were keen to adopt Lee. Paula recalls how nice the couple were, and they said they would call their new baby Paul, in honour of his birth mum.<\/p>\n Long Lost Family\u2019s team<\/a> found Paula\u2019s son still living in Liverpool, and true to their word, the couple who adopted him called him Paul.<\/p>\n The ECHO spoke to Paul, who is now a university lecturer, as he recapped the incredible journey he underwent to reconnect with his birth mum. Long Lost Family reached out<\/a> to Paul earlier this year by sending him a letter in the post.<\/p>\n Within an hour, Paul had already called the producers to say he’d like to be involved in the show. Within 24 hours, his whole family were supporting his new adventure.<\/p>\n Despite wanting to connect with his birth mum, Paul said: “I never felt I had a missing piece of the jigsaw.” He was adopted by two “amazing parents, Christine and Peter”.<\/p>\n When Long Lost Family contacted Paul, he “just knew” it was the right time. He told the ECHO: “I just knew, no one can ever have too much love in your life. And if all I got to do was say thank you to Paula for all the sacrifices she made then that was enough.”<\/p>\n Paul also recapped the moment he met his birth mum for the first time. As soon as they made eye contact, Paul said: \u201cI\u2019m definitely yours”.<\/p>\n Their physical similarities were uncanny and Paul explained it was strange to see someone who looked exactly like him, having never met any of his blood relatives before.<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_long_lost_family_sr2_ep2_08.jpg\")
Paul Clarke said he instantly bonded with his birth mum (Image: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_long_lost_family_sr2_ep2_09.jpg\")
Paul Clarke and Nicky Campbell (Image: ITV)<\/p>\n