NEWS UPDATE (11/01/2024)

Since work started on the upcoming series of Long Lost Family (Series 14) and Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace (Series 6), in September 2023,  Ariel and the team have uncovered new information resolving a long term search and enabling new family connections.   

The new series will be airing on ITV in the Spring and Summer of 2024.   

Ariel Bruce 

Ariel Bruce is a qualified and registered social worker who specialises in tracing people affected by adoption. She also helps to trace people who have lost touch as a result of emigration, divorce or other family separations.

Ariel conducts searches in Britain and all over the world and has successfully traced missing family members for over 20 years.

Based in London, Ariel carries out extensive work in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, as well as in many countries worldwide, including the USA and Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Ariel not only undertakes to trace missing people but is also experienced in making contact with those found. Many traced people are initially shocked and may need as much support as the initiators of the search. 

Although there can be no guarantee of success, most searches do result in tracing the person sought. On some occasions, searches result in forging enduring new relationships.

Ariel handles each case individually, working in strict confidence with her client. Everything is conducted with the utmost discretion and with the greatest regard to confidentiality for both the client and the missing family member or friends.

Of course, not every search is straightforward and some can take a frustratingly long time. It is possible that the missing person may feel that they do not want to be found. In a delicate situation like this, direct contact between the searcher and the person sought can be difficult. Acting as an intermediary, Ariel offers support both to her client and to the person being traced. Ariel regards this support as being of the utmost importance in ensuring that neither party feels exposed or intimidated by the situation. Ariel is always available to listen, whether or not the search is successful.

Long Lost Family and Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace 

Ariel is the lead search and social work consultant for ITV’s Long Lost Family and Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace. She has undertaken the research to trace and make contact with missing family members for every series since 2011. 

Ariel works closely with her research team on both documentary programmes. The team are: Louise Baldock, Sally Berman, Janet Bishop, Carolynne Bull ASA, Louise Drennan, Glesni Evans ASA, Catrina Milford, Cheryl Oliver and Dario Regazzi. 

Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, which is presented by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell, was announced as the winner of the Features category at the 2021 BAFTA awards (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) and the winner of the Best Factual Series category at the 2021 Rose d’Or awards. 

Long Lost Family was recently announced as the winner of the 2021 TV Choice Award for Best Lifestyle category. The documentary series previously won the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Best Feature in 2014, as well as the prestigious Royal Television Society [RTS] Programme Awards for the Popular Factual and Features category in 2012. 

OPSA (Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal)

Ariel Bruce supports OPSA, the Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal. OPSA provide vital training to doctors in Pakistan as well as life changing operations for children born with facial abnormalities.

Read more about the work OPSA do by  clicking here.

Ariel Bruce is Director of Regent Wood Ltd. Company Registration No. 07700252. 6 Regent Square, London, WC1H 8HZ.

Regent Wood Limited ICO registration number: Z8569442