Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace

The programme follows the extraordinary lives of individuals who were abandoned as infants. It recounts the case of a man who was left on the steps of a church and the story of a young woman who was found in the toilets of a hospital.

2022 Special 1 is a television episode that falls under the programme category and is presented as a single instalment. It is billed as a collection of true‑to‑life accounts, each focusing on a person who was abandoned as an infant. The format follows the conventions of an episodic documentary, delivering concise narratives that centre on the circumstances surrounding each abandonment. The core of the episode is made up of striking stories about individuals who were left as babies. Among the cases featured is a man who was discovered on the steps of a church, his arrival marked only by the quiet of the early morning and the anonymity of the doorway. Another account follows a young woman who was found in the toilets of a hospital, her presence revealed only when someone noticed her there. Both narratives are presented as examples of how people can begin life in extreme neglect yet later come to know their origins. The programme further outlines how each subject eventually learned about the details of their early abandonment. It highlights the stark contrast between the two locations – a sacred place of worship and a clinical, public restroom – underscoring the varied environments in which infants were left. By concentrating on these two distinct incidents, the episode offers a glimpse into the broader phenomenon of infant abandonment without venturing beyond the specific stories it sets out to tell.