Family
In Series 3, Pearce was revealed to be divorced, with two children. It had been previously mentioned that he had not told his wife what his profession was until their wedding day (15 June 1977). He met his wife, Jane, an English teacher by career, during their studies at Oxford. They had a daughter, Catherine, on 25 April 1980, followed by a son, Graham, on 18 June 1983, before "Jane filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences" in October 1986. At some point between the divorce and her on-screen appearance, his daughter Catherine changed her surname to her mother's maiden name, Townsend. It is also stated in Series 7 Episode 7 that Jane suffered from depression.
While his ex-wife and son have never appeared on screen, Pearce's daughter, portrayed by Caroline Carver, appeared in Series 3, Episode 4 — at the start of the episode he regarded her as emotional and as one to "spot a bird with a broken wing", but in the course of the episode's events, he shows how deeply he cares for her and has grown to respect her intelligence. At the beginning of the same episode, Pearce mentions that "it was her brother who got the brains", although it is stated later in the episode that this brother, Graham, has not succeeded in life. It is also stated in Series 7 Episode 7 that Graham suffered a drug addiction.
In Series 9 episode 8, Harry calls Catherine and leaves a message. It is evident that this is his first contact for a while and that he knew she would be teaching a class and would not answer. He calmly and warmly suggests meeting for dinner soon and says that he knows she "looks out for" her brother – for whom he has no number "at the moment" – and that he would like to see more of them both. He is, in fact, on his way to a rendezvous with rogue agent Lucas North and expecting that he will die.
In Series 10 Episode 1, Harry explained to Ruth that during the time he was stationed in Berlin during the Cold War he had an affair with Elena Gavrik, the wife of former KGB officer and now Russian Minister Ilya Gavrik. Both Elena and Ilya had been called to the UK for talks about the new relationship between the two countries after Harry's tribunal (the reason he was called back to the Grid at the beginning of the episode) and they had brought their son, FSB officer Sasha Gavrik, with them as part of the their protection programme. Sasha, knowing his mother is a former western spy, suspects Harry may still be running her as an MI5 asset and demands he break all contact with Elena. After confessing to Ruth at the end of the episode that he and Elena had been lovers, Ruth suggests taking Sasha Gavrik out of action in order to protect Elena from being revealed as a former MI5 asset, but Harry refuses and reveals to Ruth the reason behind this is that not only were he and Elena lovers, but that Sasha Gavrik is also their son. However, in episode 6, Elena reveals she has tricked Harry and Sasha is indeed Ilya's son.
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Famous quotes containing the word family:
“I acknowledge that the balance I have achieved between work and family roles comes at a cost, and every day I must weigh whether I live with that cost happily or guiltily, or whether some other lifestyle entails trade-offs I might accept more readily. It is always my choice: to change what I cannot tolerate, or tolerate what I cannot—or will not—change.”
—Melinda M. Marshall (20th century)
“In former times and in less complex societies, children could find their way into the adult world by watching workers and perhaps giving them a hand; by lingering at the general store long enough to chat with, and overhear conversations of, adults...; by sharing and participating in the tasks of family and community that were necessary to survival. They were in, and of, the adult world while yet sensing themselves apart as children.”
—Dorothy H. Cohen (20th century)
“For most women who are considering it, single motherhood is not their first choice, but it’s not their last one either. They would prefer a husband in their family, but they’d rather have a family without one than no family at all.”
—Anne Cassidy. “Every Child Should Have a Father But....,” McCall’s (March 1985)