The hugely popular BBC One genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? returns, featuring ten diverse celebrities delving in to their ancestors’ pasts, to discover hidden family histories and reflect what it means to be British today.
6th July - Charles Dance (Director Rosie Schellenberg)
Actor Charles Dance has made his name playing aristocrats, including Tywin Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones. But the upstairs world Charles inhabits on screen is nothing like his own background, and his mum was an under house parlour maid. Charles wants to know if he comes from a long line of servants or if he can uncover some grander origins. He is also determined to learn about his dad, who died when Charles was four. Charles's search for information takes him to the other side of the world to meet close relatives he never knew he had.
13th July - Craig Revel Horwood (Director Des Daniels)
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood reveals his softer side. Heading to his home town of Ballarat in Australia, Craig investigates what happened to his great-great-great-grandfather who risked everything in the Australian Gold Rush.
A visit to his beloved 100-year-old grandmother sends Craig in pursuit of another maverick ancestor. Craig's great-great-grandfather Harry turns out to have been the life of the party and, better still, a fabulous dancer.
20th July - Clare Balding (Director Mary Cranitch)
Sports presenter and broadcaster Clare Balding has always been curious about her maternal great-grandfather and the 'thingt hat has been sort of whispered in the family - could he have been gay?' Getting to the truth of the matter is a challenge when all the evidence comes from a time when homosexuality was illegal.
Digging into her father's side of the family takes Clare to New Jersey and New York, where she uncovers an extraordinary dynasty and American roots stretching back generations.
27th July - Adil Ray (Director Julian Birkett)
Citizen Khan star Adil Ray identities as Brummie, British, Muslim, Pakistani and African - his mum came to England from the newly independent Kenya with her family in 1967. Heading back to east Africa, Adil traces his mixed Asian and African ancestry across Kenya to Uganda. On the trail of rumours of a link to African royalty, Adil meets Adrican relatives for the first time in the traditional kingdom of Buganda and is amazed to discover the truth about his lineage.
3rd August - Emma Willis (Director Rosie Schellenberg)
Presenter Emma Willis grew up in Birmingham and loves the city and her fellow Brummies. She wants to find out how deep her roots are there. Further afield, an interfaith marriage in Ireland leads Emma down two very different paths. Violent events force her to confront disturbing truths about one ancestor, while the hard graft and determination of another lead Emma to draw parallels with her own life.
Coming later in 2017:
Noel Clarke (Director Claire Lewis)
Lisa Hammond (Director Archie Powell)
Fearne Cotton (Director David Vincent)
Lulu (Director Eleanor Scoones)
Ruby Wax (Director Rachel Jardine)
