Presenter Davina McCall and the makers of the hit ITV series Long Lost Family are reaching out to those with ties to the UK's Mother and Baby Homes Scandal.

During the last 15 years, the BAFTA-winning show Long Lost Family has been reuniting family members after long periods of separation.

After recently focusing on the heart-wrenching stories of British and Spanish mothers whose children were taken during General Franco’s regime, the series is now shifting its focus to the UK’s mother and baby homes.

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The new episodes will delve into the treatment of unmarried women who found themselves pregnant, and the adoption of their babies from 1949 to 1976. The team will also collaborate with Ariel Bruce, an experienced social worker, to help reunite mothers with their adult children. Ariel has been working with adoption-affected individuals and family tracing since 1985.

A spokesperson for the show commented: "Around a quarter of the stories across our series since it began fifteen years ago have involved people who stayed in, gave birth in, or were placed for adoption from mother and baby homes. However, we have never made a programme that focusses solely on such stories. It feels like the right moment to do so."

Meanwhile, presenter said: "These women’s stories are a forgotten part of our history. It’s vital that we help mothers searching for answers before it’s too late."

The team behind the special episode is still accepting applications, including those who have previously applied.

During the special episode The Spanish Baby Scandal, which aired in January viewers were introduced to Ruth Appleby, whose first child was born in Spain in 1992.

Sharing her story with hosts Davina and Nicky Campbell, Ruth expressed that she believed her daughter had passed away at birth however suspicions have come to light in recent years that she may have been stolen.

Explaining her tragic story, she said: "If the ashes I have aren't my child's, who's are they? I need the truth.

"For me, just knowing my child is alive would change my life."

says: "It is unbearable listening to you. As a mother, I can't bear it. I feel so much compassion for you. It's terrible."

Ruth, who was 60 years old at the time the programme aired is a teaching assistant residing in the Yorkshire Dales, spent 24 years in Spain after traveling there in 1982 with her boyfriend, who was teaching Spanish. It was in La Coruna where she gave birth.

Long Lost Family is available to watch on ITVX.