Did you see the first programme in the 12th series of Who Do You Think You Are? on TV?
Paul Hollywood, from The Great British Bake Off, was taken back to his grandfather's WWII experience in North Africa where his grandfather was sent as soon as he had completed his training. At Medjez el Bab in Tunisia, Norman's Light Anti-Aircraft division were protecting the infantry from enemy air attacks at the time of the major Allied offensive to take Tunis from the German forces. With the enemy throwing bombs and missiles at them it was hard on these men.
From there Paul travelled to Italy, where he learnt about how his grandfather was part of the landing force that became trapped on the beaches at Anzio for four months, surrounded by Germans and all the while under constant aerial bombardment. Paul gets to see the landing area where his grandfather and the other men would have felt like sitting ducks, with death and devastation all around them. Norman and his comrades finally managed to land and their gun was then transported five miles inland. Unfortunately for them the regiment was soon surrounded by the enemy in a dangerously exposed area. Huge numbers of men had no choice but to dig themselves into 7ft long fox holes and spend months trapped, coming under repeated German shell attacks.
In May 1944 and thanks to Norman's regiment's extraordinary efforts, the stalemate at Anzio was broken. The next month the Allied armies went on to liberate Rome, but not without the loss of 14,000 lives. Paul's grandfather brought back from this conflict a visible memento of his terrifying time. He had developed a facial tic that stayed with him until he died.
Researching his line even further back, Paul Hollywood was seen in the Who Do You Think You Are? programme to use TheGenealogist's 'family forename search' to find Alexander McKenzie, a Wood Turner who had come down to Liverpool from his native Glasgow.
Following his Scottish family line up to Glasgow he then found that the next generation in the McKenzie family was a Glasgow Policeman, down from the Highlands, who had a certain amount of trouble avoiding alcohol.
Paul then discovered that his great, great, great, great grandfather Donald McKenzie, was a Highland postman with quite extraordinary stamina. Not being able to afford a horse with which to cover his rounds delivering the mail to 30,000 people, Donald simply ran the 120 miles with the mail every week.
The BBC has now announced the order in which the Who do You Think You Are? episodes will be broadcast for the 12th U.K. series.
This popular genealogy TV programme kicks off with Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood on 13th August, on BBC One. The series will be aired every Thursday evening at 9pm, with a one week break in between Mark Gatiss and Frances de la Tour’s episodes on 15th October.
Although the schedule may still be subject to change, Frances de la Tour’s story will close the series on 22nd of October.
Three days of brilliant family history talks, expert advice, new records and resources to explore have just finished for this year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live.
Held at the new venue for the show at the NEC, Birmingham there was so much more space with wider aisles and the airiness of a more modern venue compared to its old home of Olympia in London.
Many of the visitors to the show seemed happy with the mixture of Genealogical Supplies vendors and Family History Societies on hand, though a few were disappointed to find some FHS from the south-east and also Scotland hadn't managed to make it to the show this year.
The main data subscription sites, however, were there to showcase their various online offerings as was the National Archives, GRO and many more.
Feedback from those visiting seemed to be very positive overall and next year's dates have now been announced as April 7th-9th 2016 back at the NEC.
Reggie Yates, best known for his work as a BBC radio DJ and television presenter, will be at the Who Do You Think You Are? Live show at Birmingham's NEC on the opening day.
Reggie appeared on the TV programme Who Do You Think You Are? last year, in an episode which saw him travel to Ghana to trace his grandfather, Harry Philip Yates. Once there, he unravelled a complicated family history in which Ghanaian culture and British colonialism collided.
Born in London in 1983, the presenter knew very little about his father’s side of the family, after his parents separated when he was just four years old. He grew up with his mother and never met his paternal grandparents, but his Who Do Think You Are? experience made him feel more connected to both his own father and his wider family: “I feel like I’m part of something, and being here and learning about our history has made that even more real.”
During his trip to Ghana, the presenter enlisted the help of historian, Carina Ray, to discover more about the men in his family including George Yates, an Englishman who came over to the Gold Coast to work in the mining industry. Reggie also met his adopted uncle, JB, and spoke to Ghanaian chief Nana about his great grandmother.
Hear Reggie's story
Reggie will be doing a Q and A session with Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine editor, Sarah Williams, to discuss the making of his episode and share his story.
"I was really honoured to take part in Who Do You Think You Are?" Reggie explains, "it was an incredible journey that I took a huge amount from and I'm really looking forward to sharing my experiences."
Meet Reggie and hear first-hand about his experiences at Who Do You Think You Are? Live on Friday 16 April at the NEC! To ensure you don't miss out, book your tickets here
'Twiggy', the fashion icon and model from the 1960s and who appeared in a recent BBC Who Do You Think You Are? programme on the TV, had an interesting family story to tell.
Twiggy uncovered the sad truth that her ancestor's family were torn apart by illness, poverty and crime. Her search took her into the Victorian's bleakest institutions, the workhouse and the prison, something she had never heard about previously in connection with her family and on to her great-great-grandmother whose life ended in a tragic way, shopping for clothes and being killed in a "bargain sale" stampede.
Twiggy's family history story
Twiggy whose real name was Lesley Lawson (formerly Lesley Hornby) appears in a fascinating piece in the Featured Articles on TheGenealogist.
Tonight on BBC1 at 9pm sees the next episode of Who Do You Think You Are? featuring legendary comedian and film star, Billy Connolly. With a family history stretching far from his native Scotland via Ireland to India in the mid 1800s, in a time of rebellion and turmoil, it’s a fascinating tale. TheGenealogist has produced a preview to read before the programme in their Featured Articles pages on their website.
Here you can read about Billy Connolly and also the other celebrities featured in the excellent series so far which has kept the programme as popular as ever.
Billy Connolly discovers his Indian heritage in his feature on Who Do You Think You Are?
The latest episode of Who Do You Think You Are? continues tonight on BBC1 at 9pm with Martin Shaw, star of The Professionals, Judge John Deed and Inspector George Gently. Martin’s family roots have strong Birmingham connections in the thriving brass industry of the 1800s. If you’d like to know more, TheGenealogist has looked into his family history in their 'Featured Article' section.
It promises to be an interesting episode tonight. There's a grandfather who suddenly disappears and also some of Martin's ancestors were involved in the gun manufacturing industry in the 1800s, a coincidence given the 'expert shot' that Martin Shaw played in his acting role in The Professionals, that of former Detective Constable Raymond Doyle!
What are your thoughts on the series so far?
Martin Shaw discovers his family history on Who Do You Think You Are? tonight
As the ever popular series of Who Do You Think You Are? continues, tonight at 9pm on BBC1 sees the spotlight focus on award winning cook, writer and broadcaster, Mary Berry. The style of the series has received mixed reviews this year but may revert back to the usual style tonight as Mary has a number of interesting ancestors in her family tree.
Her ancestors also appear to have had the same hard working, determined ethic that she is so renowned for. From a corset maker (also called Mary Berry) who worked and raised a family single handed, to her ancestor Robert Houghton who ran a bakery in Norwich, providing bread for the local workhouse , there's a number of interesting tales in her family history.
It promises to be a good programme, will you be watching?
If you'd like a taster of Mary's family history, TheGenealogist has a featured article available to view.
Mary Berry discovers some baking history in her family tree
The latest programme in the Who Do You Think You Are? series continued last night with acclaimed Lincolnshire actress Sheridan Smith and her family history story.
The programme continued the style of many previous shows this series by mainly concentrating on just one ancestor. Benjamin Doubleday, Sheridan's great great grandfather, was discovered to be a popular and respected banjo player who worked hard to make a name for himself in show business in the Sheffield area. However, in a competitive industry he over-committed himself and ended up bankrupt, losing his family and trying to allegedly commit insurance fraud. The story had many interesting twists and turns and Benjamin manages to reconcile with two of his daughters (also musicians) and returns to show business in the years before his death.
TheGenealogist has looked into Sheridan's family history and discovered some other unique records, including details of his bankruptcy in the 1890s. If you'd like to know more, TheGenealogist has uncovered more which can be found here in their featured article.
What did you think of last night's episode?
Sheridan Smith and her musically talented family history
The new series of Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1 continues this Thursday at 9pm with star of stage and screen, Sheridan Smith. Both of her parents were musically talented and Sheridan inherited a love of singing and show business from them. In this week's programme, she is keen to find out if her family connections to the world of entertainment stretch back even further.
The programme concentrates on her great great grandfather, Benjamin Doubleday and his famed banjo playing in the 1880s and 1890s. From fame and popularity he falls upon hard times as the fickle nature of show business deals him a crushing blow. However, despite circumstances conspiring against him, he carries on his banjo playing performances, into the early 1900s.
If you'd like to find out more before the programme airs later this week, TheGenealogist has a special featured article on Sheridan Smith.
Sheridan Smith looks at her banjo playing ancestor in this week's episode
