Ruth Madeley on Who Do You Think You Are?: Why the actress uses a wheelchair as she traces her family tree
Ruth has been in a wheelchair since she was littleRuth Madeley is the latest famous face to look back at her ancestors in Who Do You Think You Are?, but some viewers might be wondering why she uses a wheelchair.
The Doctor Who actress, 38, is keen to find out more about her family tree, especially as little is known about her father’s side.
But fans tuning into the BBC show, which is returning to screens after several weeks off air, might question why Ruth needs a wheelchair.
Here, we explain.
Why does Ruth Madeley use a wheelchair?
Ruth has needed a wheelchair to move around since she was a small child.
Six weeks before she was born, doctors made a discovery. Ruth, still in the womb, was diagnosed with spina bifida. This when a baby’s spine and spinal cord do not fully develop during pregnancy.
Ruth previously wrote for the BBC: “My mum’s experience from her obstetrician 31 years ago was very negative when they discovered I had spina bifida just six weeks before I was born.
“They told my mum that I would never walk and that I would have many other health complications – not offering my family much hope for me at all.
“Termination was never an option for my mum but, met with such negativity from professionals, she was naturally very worried about my health and whether I would live or not.”
Thankfully, Ruth did survive. But in time, it became clear she would always have trouble walking. She was also diagnosed with scoliosis – a curvature of the spine – after undergoing countless operations.
Age five, Ruth was gifted a custom pink wheelchair by the charity Whizz Kidz. She fondly refers to her younger self as “Barbie on wheels”.
She previously told The Times: “It was so cool-looking. Barbie on wheels. That was all I ever wanted to be.”
Ruth’s acting career and disability awareness work
Ruth never trained to be an actress. She was cast “by accident” while doing work experience at the BBC. A TV exec asked her to audition for a part in a children’s TV show and a star was born.
Viewers will know Ruth best for Doctor Who and Years and Years. The scriptwriters for Years and Years actually shaped the script around her character, Rosie Lyons, having spina bifida.
Ruth has also appeared in Fresh Meat, The Rapture and The War Between the Land and the Sea. She’s taken part in entertainment shows including, Would I Lie To You? and Celebrity Best Home Cook.
Ruth tells Who Do You Think You Are viewers: “Those secondary school years.. those teenage years were really, really hard. But it was never seen as a reason not to achieve or to not be happy
“I never grew up seeing anyone on screen that looked like me.”
Ruth also campaigns for disability awareness. She has continued to fundraise for Whizz Kidz since she was a child and was recognised as a patron of the charity in 2019.
Ruth Madeley on Who Do You Think You Are?
Who Do You Think You Are? has been off air for several weeks due to the FIFA World Cup 2026. But it makes its comeback tonight (Thursday July 9, 2026). It will air at 9pm on BBC One.
Ruth begins the upcoming episode with an emotional mission to uncover the mystery surrounding her dad Geoff’s side of the family.
She explains: “Growing up, me and my sister knew a lot about my mum’s side. They were all really close. But on my dad’s side, we didn’t really know anything.
“We weren’t as close. They were more spread out and the relationship felt a bit strange.”
Ruth adds: “My dad didn’t know anything at all. He just said his mum was quite quiet and had some pictures, but we didn’t know anything about her background.”
As the episode unfolds, the family finally gets the answers they have been searching – and it is something they are not expecting!
Read more: Who Do You Think You Are?: Toby Jones makes ‘thrilling’ discovery as he takes part in BBC show
