Who Do You Think You Are?
BBC One
Continuing through September, the current series of WDYTYA? features plenty of episodes that may well become firm favourites in the years ahead.
In the first of September’s programmes, following a scheduling change that came through after the last issue of WDYTYA? Magazine went to press, Texan supermodel Jerry Hall traces her family back to rather less glamorous Oldham roots but also finds a connection to a hero of the Old West.
On Thursday 10 September, Gareth Malone takes centre stage. The choirmaster grew up surrounded by music – his parents met while singing in musicals. But does this love of song go back further? As Gareth learns about his great great grandfather, a musical comedy star who performed for King George V, and hears tales of another fascinating character, the answer would seem to be an emphatic ‘yes’.
Anne Reid, the star of Last Tango In Halifax, wants to know about her father’s family, but has little information with which to begin her search. However, she does have the name of a house in Scotland and thinks members of her father’s family were ministers.
She doesn’t find churchmen, though. Instead, Anne’s research leads to a 3x great grandfather, who ended up on a convict ship headed for Tasmania. You can find out why on 17 September.
According to Frank Gardener’s mother, her family arrived in Britain with the Normans. Can this really be true? On a journey deep into the past, the BBC’s security correspondent learns that his 10x great grandfather was Sir Michael Stanhope, a knight in the Tudor era.
For more details about the episodes as well as unseen footage and research tips, go to whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com. Jonathan Wright