Actor, comedian, talent show judge and children’s author David Walliams delves into his family history. First, he learns of his paternal great-grandfather’s prolonged and traumatic experiences on the battlefields of the First World War. The damage to his mental health condemned him to a lifetime in what was then known as a lunatic asylum. On his mother’s side, David uncovers the story of his great-great-grandfather, who was blind as the result of invasive eye surgery. David is amazed to find out that his ancestor became an entertainer - first a street musician and then a travelling showman, running fairground attractions with the help of his wife and children.
Source: BBC 1
Series 18: 1. Josh Widdicombe
Comedian Josh Widdicombe embarks on a rollercoaster ride through his extraordinary family history. After a less than promising start with an ancestor who was cut out of the fami ...
23-01-2024
BBC 1
Series 19: 3. Matt Lucas
Comedian, presenter and actor Matt Lucas had an exceptionally close bond with his late grandmother, Margot, who came to the UK in 1939 as a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. Mat ...
25-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 16: 5. Katherine Ryan
Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan’s investigation of her family history leads her to a Methodist minister and his family in colonial Nova Scotia, cod traders in Newfoundlan ...
18-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 15: 5. Shirley Ballas
Strictly Come Dancing's head judge Shirley Ballas investigates a family story that her maternal great-grandmother abandoned her husband and children for a more exciting life in ...
15-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 18: 5. Pixie Lott
Singer-songwriter and talent show judge Pixie Lott hopes to confirm a family story that she has Italian ancestry from Verona, but instead discovers ancestors battling poverty an ...
14-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 16: 8. Mark Wright
Intrigued by family stories from his granddad Eddie, former TOWIE star and presenter Mark Wright investigates his dad’s side of the family. Discovering Sephardi Jewish anc ...
13-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 17: 4. Ruth Jones
Actor and writer Ruth Jones - Nessa from Gavin and Stacey - investigates her Welsh family’s history. On her mum’s side, she discovers that her great-great-great-gran ...
12-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 15: 4. Boy George
Iconic pop star Boy George grew up in south London in an Irish family. George expects to find a lot of sadness in his family tree. He knows that his maternal grandmother was fou ...
11-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 15: 8. Jonnie Peacock
Paralympic gold medal winner Jonnie Peacock was named for his maternal grandad, who died the year before he was born. Like Jonnie, his grandad was a sportsman - an excellent ama ...
11-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 15: 1. Michelle Keegan
Our Girl actress Michelle Keegan uncovers some exceptional women on her family tree. On her mother's side Michelle discovers that her Gibraltarian great-grandmother Leonor had t ...
04-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 15: 1. Michelle Keegan
Our Girl actress Michelle Keegan uncovers some exceptional women on her family tree. On her mother's side Michelle discovers that her Gibraltarian great-grandmother Leonor had t ...
04-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 15: 6. Marvin Humes
DJ, presenter and former member of boy band JLS, Marvin Humes delves into his Jamaican and his English heritage, and finds exceptional stories on both sides of the family. \n\nD ...
16-08-2018
BBC 1
Series 18: 5. Pixie Lott
Singer-songwriter and talent show judge Pixie Lott hopes to confirm a family story that she has Italian ancestry from Verona, but instead discovers ancestors battling poverty an ...
14-09-2023
BBC 1
Series 11 - Billy Connolly
Celebrity genealogy series. Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly travels to India in the footsteps of his army ancestors and makes an extraordinary discovery.
06-11-2019
BBC 1
Series 19: 2. Richard Osman
Quiz show presenter and crime writer Richard Osman delves into his Brighton roots and is astonished to discover that one of his ancestors turned amateur sleuth and ended up enta ...
03-08-2023
BBC 1
Series 7 - Bruce Forsyth
Celebrity genealogy series. Entertainer Bruce Forsyth travels to America to investigate claims that his great-grandfather was married to two women at once.
13-10-2014
BBC 1