Celebs chase down their ancestors
TV quizzers Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace uncover the truth about their heritage in a new series of DNA Journey
NOBODY expected Who Do You Think You Are? to become such a massive success.
Watching celebrities research their ancestry sounds like a decent idea, and the BBC likely expected it to run for a couple of series before they began struggling to either find anybody willing to take part, or anybody with fascinating relatives.
However, we’ve now enjoyed 18 series since 2004, with the calibre of participants as impressive as ever. What’s more, the format has been sold around the world.
So it’s no wonder that ITV has been on the hunt for its own equivalent for some time.
DNA Journey sees two celebs – who could be friends or family members – investigating their ancestors, with Ant and Dec, getting the ball rolling in 2019.
It returns this week with three new celebrity duos embarking on the road trip of a lifetime. Skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, actresses Maureen Lipman and Rula Lenska and Chase stars Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace will dive deeper into their ancestral history than they ever thought possible.
First up on their journey of discovery are revered Anne and Shaun. They start their voyage at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock. Despite initially thinking they’re there to learn more about Shaun, Anne – in true Chaser style – quickly figures out she’s the one who has the connection.
A deep dive into Anne’s history unveils a great-grandfather with connections to the RMS Lusitania – sunk by a German U-boat in the First World War – and the glitzy ocean liner RMS Mauretania.
Anne learns her great-grandfather’s heroic story and meets more of his living relatives, including a decorated lieutenant in the navy. Reflecting on her experience, she says, “I knew there was someone in my family tree who was on the Lusitania and survived. I had no idea I had any Liverpool connections.
“I’m related to a bloke with medals on his chest and everything. How cool is that?”
The pair’s journey takes them from Liverpool to Ocho Rios in Jamaica. There, they learn more about Shaun’s past dating back to the 1700s, before the abolition of the slave trade.
A poignant meeting with a genealogist reveals his sixth great-grandmother was sold to the owners of Southfield Estate, St Ann.
Further examination brings to light a heartbreaking revelation that Shaun struggles to get his head around.
“We can’t rewrite history, but I will always feel the injustice – not only in relation to how my family were treated but how Black people were treated – and that sense of revulsion, horror, disgust. But it’s something I can’t change. I’m glad that I know about it,” he says.
Shaun and Anne journey to the estate to learn more and gain a better understanding of what life was like for Shaun’s ancestors.
“This must be the opportunity of a lifetime,” he says. “I’m not the type to get emotional – that’s part of my training as a lawyer – but to actually know the history, and go back in time to appreciate their strength, courage and fortitude… It’s very emotional.”