A NORMANDY veteran who took part in a BBC documentary helping Hollywood star Ioan Gruffudd discover his family history died before they got to meet.

Last night viewers saw how Fantastic 4 actor Ioan, 43, discovered he is a direct descendant of Edward I – the 13th century king who set out to conquer Wales – while researching his family history that also included a relative who died during World War II.

As part of the film the Los Angeles-based star was due to meet with Bill Speake, from Talgarth, who’d seen action on D-Day, to learn about the massive military operation in 1944 that signalled the start of the Allied liberation of Europe.

But sadly Bill, who lived at a care home in Talgarth, died in May just days before he was due to meet with Ioan. A contribution Bill had recorded was included in the programme.

Viewers saw Ioan brake down in tears when he heard the tragic fate of his uncle David Leslie Griffiths who made it ashore after the D-Day landings but was killed days later aged just 33.

Bill’s daughter Carol Millward, of Llowes, said Ioan and director Geoff Evans both phoned her to offer their condolences after learning her father had passed away.

She said: ""Poor old Ioan, I felt sorry for him as it meant a lot to him to find out about his relative.

"Ioan was flying out from Los Angeles and my dad was going to give him the details about the build up to D-Day and what they had to do."

You can see Coming Home: Ioan Gruffudd on the BBC iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086xl8v