'She was in love with her own father': Tilda Swinton's ex-lover discovers he was born following an incestuous relationship between his mother and grandfather

  • Tilda Swinton's ex-lover has revealed his family's incest secret
  • John Byrne's mother had a relationship with her own father, leading to his birth
  • The 77-year-old playwright was told during a phone call with his cousin in 2002
  • Ms Swinton, tipped to become the next Dr Who, was present the day he was told

By Sanchez Manning for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 18:02 EDT, 18 March 2017 | Updated: 22:02 EDT, 18 March 2017

The former lover of actress Tilda Swinton has revealed that he was born after an incestuous relationship between his mother and his grandfather.

Playwright John Byrne, 77, who has two children with Miss Swinton, was at the home he shared with the Chronicles Of Narnia star in Tain, northern Scotland, when he discovered the dark secret.

John Byrne, 77, the ex-lover of actress Tilda Swinton, has revealed his family's incest secret. Mr Byrne discovered in 2002 that he was born after a relationship between his mother and her own father

John Byrne, 77, the ex-lover of actress Tilda Swinton, has revealed his family's incest secret. Mr Byrne discovered in 2002 that he was born after a relationship between his mother and her own father

Mr Byrne – known to his family as Iain – said he was told in a 2002 phone call from his cousin Aileen Kane the truth about his mother Alice, and Alice's father Patrick McShane.

Mr Byrne said: 'Aileen's mother, my auntie Helen, had died. She'd told Aileen what my mother had told her [Helen].

'Aileen asked Tilda, 'Do you think I should tell Iain?' Tilda said, 'You've got to tell him.' '

The playwright told The Times that he recalled how his mother would walk eight miles to see her father.

He said: 'She was in love with her own father. She just wanted to be in his company.'

Mr Byrne has since separated from Miss Swinton, 56, who is tipped to become the first female Doctor Who.

 

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