Catch up TV
Series 20: 2. Claire Foy
Actress Claire Foy is best known for playing the young Queen Elizabeth in The Crown. Having enjoyed researching the lives of her onscreen characters, she’s now looking forward to delving into the lives of her own ancestors. Claire starts with a visit to see her mum and her 93-year-old grandad. After reminiscing about their Irish roots, her grandad tells Claire the tragic story of his father, Claire’s great-grandfather, Charles Stimpson, who was killed on his motorbike. Curiously, Claire’s great-grandad Charles’s place of birth is marked as the rather posh-sounding ‘The Castle’ in Carlisle - so that’s where Claire heads next.\n\nThis rather grand place turns out to be a military barracks where her great-great-grandparents Henry and Maria Stimpson lived. It’s Henry’s life as a soldier that leads to another tragic story – a drowning during an off-duty cross-country race. Claire visits the river where he died and is saddened by an incident that also left a widow with five children, who were now homeless and without an income. Claire is heartened to read how the local community reacted to the tragedy, raising money to help them continue their lives.\n\nNext, Claire investigates her paternal side. Her dad David was adopted but was reunited with his birth mother Joyce later in life. Despite having got to know Joyce, he knows nothing of her ancestors, so Claire sets out to find out more. With help from a genealogist, Claire takes her paternal line back to her three-times great-grandparents John and Eliza Martin and is pleased to see that, just like her maternal family, her dad’s line also has Irish roots – John was born in Dublin. Claire is shocked to read a local newspaper story about her three-times great-grandfather John. Further investigation reveals that John and his brother William were accused of being present at a fatal shooting, and if found guilty of the charge of joint enterprise, they would be sentenced to death. Despite protesting their innocence, eyewitnesses placed them at the scene. Their trial was national news, and with the help of historian Rose Wallis, Claire slowly pieces together the story of a riveting court case. In a tense courtroom with the odds stacked against them, the lives of Claire’s three-times great-grandfather John and her four-times great-uncle William hang in the balance until the stand is taken by witnesses called by the defence, including Claire’s three-times great-grandmother Eliza. Claire finds out their fate. As she comes to the end of her journey, Claire can’t help but be grateful to the communities that have rallied and supported her family in times of need.
Source: BBC 1
Most recent episodes of Who Do You Think You Are?
Who Do You Think You Are?
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 ...
24-03-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 8: 1. June Brown
Celebrities trace their family trees to reveal the lives of their ancestors and explore major themes in British social history.\n\nNational treasure June Brown leads the way as ...
19-02-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 3: 1. Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor traces her maternal grandfather to the east London docks and finds out that his mother was a match girl at the Bryant and May factory. Barbara's father's family ...
17-02-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
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 ...
10-01-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 16: 7. Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne is open about her less-than-idyllic childhood and her remote relationship with her mother, but as she delves into her maternal family history and uncovers the di ...
09-01-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
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 ...
08-01-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
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 ...
07-01-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 20: 5. Chris And Xand Van Tulleken
Doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken are identical twins, medical doctors and science broadcasters. They grew up in London, surrounded by old paintings and documents commemoratin ...
06-01-2025
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 18: 2. Dame Judi Dench
Shakespearean actor, movie star and national treasure Dame Judi Dench's journey begins with her father Reginald Dench, who never spoke of his experiences during the First World ...
16-12-2024
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 21: 7. Gemma Collins
Businesswoman, social media phenomenon, reality TV star and self-declared diva Gemma Collins goes in search of her family history. She knows quite a lot about her dad’s si ...
01-10-2024
BBC 1
Most popular episodes of Who Do You Think You Are?
Who Do You Think You Are?
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
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 11 - Martin Shaw
Celebrity genealogy series. Actor Martin Shaw investigates the story of his grandfather, Edwin Shaw, who walked out on his family when Martin's father was just a boy.
04-11-2019
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 11 - Reggie Yates
Celebrity genealogy series. Presenter and DJ Reggie Yates unravels a complex family history where Ghanaian culture and British colonialism collide.
05-11-2019
BBC 1
Who Do You Think You Are?
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
Who Do You Think You Are?
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
