A woman who was forced to put her first child up for adoption by her ashamed mother after getting pregnant as a teenager has been reunited with her son on tonight’s Long Lost Family.   

Grandmother Sue Stalley, from Bedfordshire, who appeared on the third episode of the ITV programme’s latest series this evening, was still at school when she became pregnant.

Her boyfriend at the time suggested the couple should get married – but his mother refused to allow it, claiming the pair were too young.

Sue’s mother, who was so ashamed that she forced her daughter to wear a thick coat throughout her pregnancy to hide the growing baby bump, forced the pregnant teen to give up her son, Richard, five weeks after his birth.

But thanks to the Long Lost Family team, Sue’s son, now named Steve, was discovered in the Netherlands, and the birth mother and son duo were reunited in emotional scenes, aired during tonight’s episode.

Grandmother Sue Stalley (pictured with her son Steve), from Bedfordshire, who appeared on the third episode of the ITV programme’s latest series this evening, was still at school when she became pregnant

Grandmother Sue shares a hug with her son after 55 years without one another

Sue was just a teenager when she first became pregnant – but the determined soon-to-be mother was convinced that she could look after her baby. 

She recalled: ‘My boyfriend said, “well, let’s get married”. But his mum said no, we’re far too young. So it didn’t happen. My mum was mortified, to say the least. I’d brought shame on the family. 

‘She bought me this massive thick coat, and it was the middle of summer, and I was walking around with this big coat on and everyone kept saying, “are you cold?” and I’d have to go “yeah, I’m cold”, so nobody knew I was pregnant.’

Sue’s family decided that she would give the child up for adoption and sent her to a nearby mother and baby home, where Sue was miserable and desperate to keep her son after his birth.  

‘I did try, I did say to her, “I don’t want to get the baby adopted, I want to keep him” and they said no, you’re too young,’ Sue remembered.

Sue tried to return home and ask her mother to reconsider, but the parent refused. Sue spent five weeks with Richard before she had to hand him over to foster care.

She recalled on the show: ‘He wasn’t taken and then fostered straight away, I looked after him for that five weeks. It was lovely, you’ve got this little ting in your arms, he needs you, and you need him. 

‘He’s yours. And no one can take that away from you. He’ll always be mine,’ added the mother, who went on to have five more children.

Sue’s mother, who was so ashamed that she forced her daughter to wear a thick coat throughout her pregnancy to hide the growing baby bump, forced the pregnant teen to give up her son, Richard, five weeks after his birth. Pictured, Sue as a teenager

Steve, his daughter, and his granddaughter, travelled to meet with Sue, who still lives not far from where he was born

Sue was emotional after their first hug and recalled: ‘I knew that cuddle from when he was a baby. I felt that immediate bond, it was lovely, it was heartfelt.’

‘It just feels amazing that he’s back. 55 years and there’s my son right in front of me. I’ve longed for that. My family is complete. I’ve got all my children, and that is all I ever wanted,’ said Sue

It was an emotional reunion and Steve met his younger sister Stefanie and her family

Five weeks after Richard’s birth, Sue was told a foster family had been found for him: ‘I was told to pack my bags, leave the baby in the nursery and just go. I didn’t get to say goodbye. I just cried all the way through it, it wasn’t what I wanted. But then what I wanted didn’t come into it I don’t think.’

She added: ‘Afterwards I went home, I got myself a job, still was seeing my boyfriend, and then I found out I was pregnant again. 

‘My mum hit the roof, and I thought, I can’t do this again. I was very determined. I’ve got to put my foot down. She wanted to get him adopted, but I said no. 

‘I said “if you keep saying I’ve got to get him adopted, I’ll move out and I’ll take him with me”, and with that, she said “let’s come to an agreement”.’

Sue’s mother looked after the baby in the day whilst Sue was at work. Sue went on to have more children and raised them mainly as a single mother. 

She has always regretted giving up her first born son, and felt that she could have coped. 

The team discovered Richard is now called Steve, but they had difficulty locating him in the UK. It was only when they widened their search that they discovered Steve living in the Netherlands. 

Co-host Nicky Campbell met with Steve to tell him about his birth mother. Steve sympathised with his mother’s plight, particularly as he has also brought up his own two children as a single parent.

Thanks to the Long Lost Family team, Sue’s son, now named Steve (pictured right), was discovered in the Netherlands, and the birth mother and son duo were reunited in emotional scenes, aired during tonight’s episode

Sue was just a teenager when she first became pregnant – but the determined soon-to-be mother was convinced that she could look after her baby. Pictured, Sue with Davina McCall

Sue’s family decided that she would give the child up for adoption and sent her to a nearby mother and baby home, where Sue was miserable and desperate to keep her son after his birth. Pictured, Steve with Nicky Campbell

‘My ex wife, she got cancer,’ Steve revealed. ‘My son was 12, when she died. So I stopped working and brought my son up. 

‘And my daughter I had from a different relationship, she came to live with me as well at six-years-old. So I know what it’s like bringing kids up on your own, it’s tough.’

When co-host Davina McCall told Sue the news that Richard has been found, she was tearful but delighted – and couldn’t believe the parallels with his single parent status.

She also discovered that Steve had been in the military, as has much of her family. 

Steve, his daughter, and his granddaughter, travelled to meet with Sue, who still lives not far from where he was born.

Ahead of their meeting, Steve said: ‘It’s really important [to meet my birth mother] because you do have a bit of an identity problem, you know. 

‘It’s a big chunk of your life that you’ve missed out on, so you want to know a bit, what her life was like, anybody would have a thousand questions to ask, you know. I can’t wait.’

Sue was emotional after their first hug and recalled: ‘I knew that cuddle from when he was a baby. I felt that immediate bond, it was lovely, it was heartfelt.’

Sue also gifted her son a St Christopher medal to keep him safe on his travels. It was an emotional reunion and Steve met his younger sister Stefanie and her family. 

‘It just feels amazing that he’s back. 55 years and there’s my son right in front of me. I’ve longed for that. My family is complete. I’ve got all my children, and that is all I ever wanted,’ said Sue.

Steve added: ‘Fantastic… we’ll be a family now… it just feels natural.’