Who Do You Think You Are?

History | Family

Station:
BBC One (GB)

Status:
Running

Start:
2004-10-12

Rating:
0/10 from 0 users

Series in which celebrities trace their ancestry, discovering secrets and surprises from their past.

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List of episodes

S20E7 - Dev Griffin

Born to an Irish mum and a Jamaican dad, Dev Griffin grew up feeling he didn't fit in either community. He hopes discovering more about his ancestors will help him strengthen his sense of identity and belonging.

On his first ever trip to Ireland, Dev uncovers the momentous events surrounding the lives of his Irish grandmother's dad, his great-grandad Frank Weafer, and Frank's brother Patrick, Dev's great-great-uncle. Both were involved in Ireland's fight for independence in the early 20th century. Patrick Weafer marched to Dublin to fight in the Easter Rising, a decision that put him in a gunfight on Dublin's rooftops and in the middle of one of the most significant events in modern Irish history.

Similar to his brother, Frank became involved in the republican movement during the Irish War of Independence and had a role in a cycling corps, delivering intelligence messages. Both lived to see the declaration of the Irish Free State.

Next, Dev travels to Kilkee on the west coast of Ireland to learn about his Irish grandfather's dad, his great-grandfather James Griffin, who was known by his Gaelic name, Séamus Mór Ó Gríobhtha. As he uncovers Séamus's involvement in the Gaelic League, Dev learns about the battle to preserve Irish culture and language during this period. Dev is astonished by what he learns about Ireland's history and reveals how proud he is of his Irish ancestors.

Following his father's line, Dev travels to Jamaica. An emotional meeting with his newly discovered auntie Viveine leads Dev to an incredible document from the local Baptist church that reveals the day-to-day lives of his great-grandparents Joshua and Annie Riley, including some rather cheeky details, to paint an astonishingly intimate picture of island life in the early 20th century.

Discovering his ancestry uncovers stories of bravery, family and love, and Dev can finally claim both his Irish and Jamaican heritage with knowledge and pride.

Air Date: 13 Jul 2023 15:00 (CDT)

S20E8 - Chris Ramsey

Comedian Chris Ramsey draws huge audiences to his live comedy shows and also presents a podcast and TV show with his wife Rosie about the trials and tribulations of being married with children. From a South Shields working-class family, Chris feels he has a charmed and lucky life and wonders if his ancestors were as fortunate.

He starts by investigating his great-grandad Dryden Gordon Young, who fought in the First World War. A trip to the military base in Dorset where Dryden trained reveals he fought at Gallipoli, one of the deadliest campaigns of the war. After surviving the battle, Dryden's luck takes a different turn as he avoids fighting on the western front due to a nasty case of scabies and, after being captured, becomes a prisoner of war in Germany. Despite being involved in some of the most dangerous events of the war, Dryden survived to continue the family line.

Chris discovers more good fortune in his family when he learns about his grandad Alf Ramsey, who served in the navy in the Second World War. A trip to HMS Belfast reveals the freezing and dangerous conditions Alf endured during his work on the Arctic convoys, transporting vital supplies from Britain to Russia via the Arctic Ocean. After surviving German bombers and sub-zero temperatures, Alf later became one of the first British servicemen to witness the devastating aftermath of atomic warfare in Japan.

By tracing his family further back, Chris discovers his lucky streak goes back centuries, with the curious story of his five-times great-grandparents Gabriel and Ann's experiences at London's British Lying-In Hospital. One of the few places where poorer women could give birth in safer and more sanitary conditions, it was extremely difficult to secure a place there. In the late 18th century, when his five-times great-grandmother Ann was pregnant, only those lucky enough to pass a rigorous interview and then win a lottery were able to give birth there and help ensure that their children enjoyed a better start in life.

By the end of his journey, Chris's sense of good fortune is firmer than ever. He's here because of a long line of brave and determined ancestors, all helped along by a healthy dose of good luck.

Air Date: 20 Jul 2023 15:00 (CDT)

S20E9 - Lesley Manville

Actor Lesley Manville never knew much about her grandparents but wants to get to the bottom of family rumours surrounding her mum's side of the family. Despite living in a time when having children out of wedlock was a scandalous choice, Lesley's maternal grandparents, James and Harriet, never married - and Lesley and her sister Diana's impression is that their grandfather 'wasn't a very nice man'.

By delving deep into Brighton's local archives, Lesley uncovers a complex story of wartime separation, adultery and the inaccessibility of divorce, which leads to her grandparents' unconventional family arrangement. As the records reveal more details of their lives, Lesley is profoundly moved to discover that her grandad comes across as a kind and loving man.

Tracing back her father's line reveals even more surprises as Lesley sets off to solve what happened to her three-times great grandfather Aaron Harding. With no record of his death, what happened to him is a mystery. A widower with a large family to feed, Aaron protested poor conditions and pay as an agricultural worker in rural Hampshire in 1830 - a protest that would become known as the Swing Riots. As one of the key figures in the riots, Aaron was arrested and subsequently transported to Australia. Lesley follows Aaron's trail to the other side of the world to learn about his final fate and ends up discovering family she never knew existed.

Air Date: 27 Jul 2023 15:00 (CDT)