Who Do You Think You Are?
BBC One Thursday 9 June
Back after a break because of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, there are four new episodes of WDYTYA? to look forward to in June, featuring Richard Osman, Matt Lucas, Anna Maxwell Martin and Ralf Little.
As we revealed last issue, the episode featuring TV producer, quiz-show inventor and novelist Richard Osman traces the story of his maternal grandfather, a military man who acted as a role model to his clever grandson. But Osman also goes further back in time to look at the life of his 4x great grandfather Gabriel Gillam.
Gillam was a fisherman who sailed from Brighton, a tough way to make a living in the 19th century. The social history here is in itself fascinating, but there’s another reason to look at Gillam’s life in detail. He was a central figure in a notorious murder case, one that calls to mind Osman’s bestselling novels about a group of amateur sleuths.
One of the stars of BBC Two’s hit sitcom Motherland, Anna Maxwell Martin is herself bringing up two daughters and she begins her episode by discussing parenting. We are all influenced by those who raise us, but her interest lies in great part in the way that this is an ongoing story that goes back through the generations.
Maxwell Martin heads to Northern Ireland to learn about the family of her late father, “an exceptionally loving, gentle, caring man”. How did the death of a sibling affect his childhood? She also visits Scotland where she is shocked to discover alcoholism and domestic abuse on her maternal line.
The episode featuring comedian and The Great British Bake Off co-presenter Matt Lucas was still being finished as WDYTYA? Magazine went to press, but the Holocaust features prominently. We will preview the episode featuring Death in Paradise star Ralf Little next issue.
Don’t miss our exclusive interview with the team behind the new series on page 32.