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Who Do You Think You Are?
Season 13

Who Do You Think You Are?

10 episodes

Danny Dyer
E01
Episode 12016-11-2460m

Danny Dyer

EastEnders actor Danny Dyer hopes that he will 'freak a few people out' with his family history. Danny sets out to discover the history of his tough working-class family in the East End of London, but in the process he unearths an extraordinary lineage stretching back to the Norman conquest.

Amanda Holden
E02
Episode 22016-12-0160m

Amanda Holden

Amanda Holden has always heard stories about a rumoured French ancestry on her mum's side, and her investigation uncovers an extraordinary Napoleonic-era cross-channel romance. On her dad's side, Amanda's grandfather's suicide has always loomed large. But when his story takes Amanda to France once again, she is moved to discover how he helped others through a harrowing tragedy.

Liz Bonnin
E03
Episode 32016-12-0860m

Liz Bonnin

Wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin describes herself as 'a mongrel' - the result of her parents' lineages on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Martinique. In Trinidad, she goes in search of the first of her maternal ancestors to arrive on the island from India. Liz then heads to Martinique where her paternal ancestors are said to have owned plantation - and slaves. What she discovers is more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

Cheryl
E04
Episode 42016-12-1560m

Cheryl

Singer Cheryl traces her roots and discovers a sea-faring ancestor and a family tragedy.

Ricky Tomlinson
E05
Episode 52016-12-2260m

Ricky Tomlinson

Celebrity genealogy series. Ricky Tomlinson is well-known for playing the archetypal Scouser and it turns out that his Liverpool roots run deep. Ricky discovers that he comes from generations of carters, who transported goods on Liverpool's docks when the city was the British Empire's busiest port. Ricky's rage and sorrow build as he discovers how dangerous conditions were for his ancestors, eerily echoing his own fight for workers' rights in the 1970s.

Ian McKellen
E06
Episode 62017-01-2560m

Ian McKellen

As the 'last of the McKellens', Sir Ian admits to a degree of melancholy as he delves into his family history. But the results pay off richly for one of Britain's greatest actors and civil rights champions. Ian's journey uncovers a theatrical ancestor, a Victorian political activist and a link to an ancient Druidical landmark in the Lake District.

Greg Davies
E07
Episode 72017-02-0160m

Greg Davies

The comedian investigates his Welsh roots and gets more than he bargained for when he identifies a wayward great-grandfather. His journey uncovers everything from illegitimate children to royal connections.

Warwick Davis
E08
Episode 82017-02-1560m

Warwick Davis

Actor Warwick Davis owes his big break aged 11 to his paternal grandmother Edith, who heard a radio ad 'looking for short people to appear in Return of the Jedi'. Warwick takes a non-judgemental approach as he researches the family line stretching back from Edith, finding humanity and humour in some uncomfortable stories. On his maternal side, Warwick is equally open-minded when he finds out about his three-times-great-grandfather - a postman who lived a double life.

Sunetra Sarker
E09
Episode 92017-02-2260m

Sunetra Sarker

The actress sets out to explore her Bengali heritage. Starting in Kolkata she learns of her great-grandfather's activism in colonial Bengal. She also learns of her family's involvement in Bangladesh's war of independence.

Sophie Raworth
E10
Episode 102017-03-0860m

Sophie Raworth

BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth investigates her father's side of the family, and discovers a tragic but inspiring tale of ancestors who risked everything to move to America in search of religious freedom. Closer to home, she explores a family rumour that her great grandfather worked at Kew Gardens, and is astonished to uncover a horticultural heritage stretching back to the 1700s and pineapples.