Paul Hollywood and Gareth Malone star in new Who Do You Think You Are?

Paul Hollywood, Gareth Malone and Jane Seymnour are among the celebrities featuring in the new series of hit BBC1 geneolgy show Who Do You Think You Are?

The other stars who make the 10-episode line-up include US model and actress Jerry Hall, Last Tango in Halifax stars Sir Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid, actress Frances De La Tour, news reporter Frank Gardner, actor and writer Mark Gatiss and television presenter Anita Rani.

 

Spanning almost a thousand years of history and crossing four continents, the new series follows the 10 celebrities as they investigate the secrets of their family trees. 

Travelling from the Tower of London to the highlands of Scotland, from Tunisia to Tasmania, from the Punjab in India to the Wild West of America, the 10 each embark on a journey of discovery as they dig deep into their family ancestry, uncovering hidden pasts and shocking revelations.

 

The series will see model and actress Jerry Hall trace her ancestry from the cotton mills of Oldham to the plains of Texas as she discovers her family’s pioneering past, blazing the trail west across America.

 

Derek Jacobi's story is one of equal contrasts, from humble roots in Walthamstow to the court of Louis XIV of France. But the family tree hides a dangerous secret – one ancestor is leading a double life and flees to England where there’s another surprise in store – an unlikely connection to royalty on this side of the Channel.

 

Executive producer for WDYTYA producers Wall to Wall Colette Flight said: “Who Do You Think You Are? is back with another fantastic line-up of much-loved faces, uncovering hidden history by bringing our celebrities’ ancestors to life. Following our best-known stars on their personal journey into their family trees reveals extraordinary stories, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always compelling.” 

The 12 series of Who Do You Think You Are? will premiere later this summer.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.