Comedian Paul Merton was very close to his late mum, and he knows that her Irish parents died when she was very young. Her father was a shadowy figure said to have been lost at sea. Paul pieces together his grandfather’s story and discovers that he was involved in some of the key events leading to Irish independence in the 1920s, and that the true circumstances of his death were different from the story that has been handed down. In London, on his father’s side, Paul traces a great-great-grandmother who was sent to prison for her part in an assault - involving a banjo.
Source: 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 ...
09-04-2024
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: 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 ...
09-04-2024
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 20: 4. Kevin Clifton
Kevin Clifton came to fame as a dancer on Strictly, eventually winning the series with his partner in dance – and now in life – Stacey Dooley. Known on set as &lsquo ...
28-06-2023
BBC 1
Series 7 - Monty Don
Gardener Monty Don traces his family tree. His efforts lead him to a port near Anglesey, where he learns of a national disaster that ended in a family tragedy.
20-10-2014
BBC 1
Series 18: 6. Joe Sugg
YouTuber and actor Joe Sugg uncovers some incredible stories in his family tree, with a little help along the way from fellow social media star and big sister, Zoe. Joe, very ap ...
10-12-2021
BBC 1
Series 8 - Alan Carr
Celebrity genealogy series. Alan Carr explores his family's connection to football and his grandfather's brush with fame, before investigating a mysterious name change.
15-10-2014
BBC 1