Who Do You Think You Are? - Season 13

Who Do You Think You Are? - Season 13

Season 13

Stars from the world of TV, theatre, music, comedy and news join in the 13th series of the original genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? from Wall To Wall (a Warner Bros Television Production UK Ltd company) when it returns to BBC One this autumn.

EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, star of film and stage Sir Ian McKellen, news presenter Sophie Raworth, The Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson, Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis, presenter Liz Bonnin, actor and comedian Greg Davies, actress Sunetra Sarker and popstar Cheryl all discover their past in this year's series.

Our ten embark on journeys of discovery deep into their families' past, spanning almost a thousand years of history. With heartbreak and laughter, intrigue and surprise, they discover a cast of remarkable ancestors, including freedom fighters and criminals, war heroes and bigamists. Each film captures every step of a celebrity's mission to learn more about their ancestors' lives.

The series will see extraordinary firsts as it travels to new territories, exploring how our celebrities' ancestors were caught up in slavery-era Martinique and the birth of Bangladesh, and discovers previously untold stories, from the invention of the weekend to the first pineapples in Britain; from Welsh royalty to the perils of life in working-class Liverpool.

We'll follow actor Danny Dyer's remarkable journey as he traces his family from poverty and crime in the East End back through the centuries to an incredible connection to royalty. Cheryl's journey is one of equal contrasts, as she discovers the story of her long and forgotten great grandfather - a quintessential Tommy in the First World War. While Amanda Holden's investigation brings to light an extraordinary Napoleonic-era cross-channel romance and the forgotten tragedy of Britain's worst ever maritime disaster.

Executive Producer for Wall to Wall, Colette Flight, says: "Who Do You Think You Are? is back with another brilliant line-up of much-loved stars, uncovering hidden history by bringing their ancestors to life. As we follow our celebrities on their personal journey into their family trees, an extraordinary range of incredible stories are revealed, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always compelling."

Tom McDonald, BBC Head of Natural History & Specialist Factual Commissioning adds: "Who Do You Think You Are? continues to be one of the annual factual highlights on BBC One. This year's series spans centuries of history and crosses continents to unearth extraordinary genealogical revelations for some of the UK's most beloved actors, performers and presenters."

Series 13 was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of Content and Tom McDonald, Head of Natural History & Specialist Factual Commissioning. The Commissioning Executive Producer is Diene Petterle.

Network
Episodes10
DatesNov 24, 2016 - Mar 8, 2017
Previous SeasonNext Season

Episodes

Danny Dyer
Season 13Episode 160 min

Danny Dyer

EastEnders actor Danny Dyer explores his own east end roots in the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? - a journey that will reveal his connections to royalty! The Walford star will trace his family story from poverty and crime in London back through the centuries, with a very surprising result.

Nov 24, 2016
Amanda Holden
Season 13Episode 260 min

Amanda Holden

Amanda Holden has always heard stories about rumoured French ancestry on her mum's side. Her investigation uncovers an extraordinary Napoleonic-era cross-channel romance.

On her dad's side, Amanda's grandfather's suicide has always loomed large. But when his story takes Amanda to France once again, she's moved to discover how he helped others through a harrowing tragedy.

Dec 1, 2016
Liz Bonnin
Season 13Episode 360 min

Liz Bonnin

Wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin describes herself as "a mongrel": the result of her parents' lineages from the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Martinique.

Wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin describes herself as "a mongrel": the result of her parents' lineages on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Martinique.

In Trinidad, she goes in search of the first of her maternal ancestors to arrive on the island from India. Liz then heads to Martinique where her paternal ancestors are said to have owned plantations… and slaves.

What she discovers is more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

Dec 8, 2016
Cheryl Tweedy
Season 13Episode 460 min

Cheryl Tweedy

Cheryl knows little about her heritage, beyond her sense of herself as a true Geordie.

Tracing her roots in the North East, on her dad's side she discovers a sea-faring ancestor and a family tragedy.

On her mum's side, she recovers the story of her long-forgotten great grandfather:a quintessential Tommy in the First World War, who fought in one of the most famous battles on the Western Front.

Dec 15, 2016
Ricky Tomlinson
Season 13Episode 560 min

Ricky Tomlinson

Celebrity genealogy series. Ricky Tomlinson is well-known for playing the archetypal Scouser and it turns out that his Liverpool roots run deep. Ricky discovers that he comes from generations of carters, who transported goods on Liverpool's docks when the city was the British Empire's busiest port. Ricky's rage and sorrow build as he discovers how dangerous conditions were for his ancestors, eerily echoing his own fight for workers' rights in the 1970s.

Dec 22, 2016
Sir Ian McKellen
Season 13Episode 660 min

Sir Ian McKellen

As the "last of the McKellens", Sir Ian admits to a degree of melancholy as he delves into his family history.

But the results pay off richly for one of our greatest actors and civil rights champions. Ian's journey uncovers a theatrical ancestor, a Victorian political activist, and a link to an ancient druidical landmark in the Lake District.

Jan 25, 2017
Greg Davies
Season 13Episode 760 min

Greg Davies

Greg Davies's father made sure that his son was born on Welsh soil so that when Greg became a rugby international, he'd play for Wales.

Fortunately for comedy, Greg showed little talent for rugby; but he retains a sense of connection to his Welsh roots and, two years after his dad's death, wants to know more about them.

Greg gets more than he bargained for when he identifies a wayward great grandfather, but is rewarded when the trail leads further back to the deepest, Welsh-est roots that anyone could wish for.

Feb 1, 2017
Warwick Davis
Season 13Episode 860 min

Warwick Davis

Actor Warwick Davis owes his big break, aged 11, to his paternal grandmother Edith, who heard a radio ad advertising for short people to appear in Return Of The Jedi.

Warwick takes a non-judgemental approach as he researches the family line stretching back from Edith, finding humanity and humour in some uncomfortable stories.

On his maternal side, Warwick is equally open-minded when he finds out about his great, great, great grandfather: a postman who lived a double life.

Feb 15, 2017
Sunetra Sarker
Season 13Episode 960 min

Sunetra Sarker

Actor Sunetra Sarker sets out to explore the Bengali heritage she ignored when she was growing up in Liverpool.

Starting in Kolkata, Sunetra learns of her great grandfather's courageous activism in colonial Bengal - and of a family connection to Gandhi during the struggle for Indian independence.

Crossing into Bangladesh, Sunetra visits her great grandmother's ancestral home village and discovers the harrowing story of how her family was caught up Bangladesh's 1971 war for independence.

Feb 22, 2017
Sophie Raworth
Season 13Episode 1060 min

Sophie Raworth

BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth investigates her father's side of the family, and discovers a tragic but inspiring tale of ancestors who risked everything to move to America in search of religious freedom.

Closer to home, she explores a family rumour that her great grandfather worked at Kew Gardens, and is astonished to uncover a horticultural heritage stretching back to the 1700s and pineapples.

Mar 8, 2017

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