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A different style to last night's 'Who Do You Think You Are?'

Last night's 'Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1 featuring Brendan O'Carroll took on a more unusual format. The star and creator of the hit comedy show 'Mrs Brown's Boys' had requested the programme to specifically look into the history of his grandfather Peter O'Carroll and his tragic murder in Dublin in 1920. The programme was able to assist Brendan in his search to find the perpetrator of the murder nearly one hundred years ago. Discovering the fact that his family was under surveillance by the security services we find how law and order was administered under British rule at the time. Brendan's grandfather was murdered by a particularly ruthless intelligence officer, Major Jocelyn Lee Hardy in his quest to find out the whereabouts of Peter's sons, known IRA supporters. What did you think of last night's show, did you prefer the format of just looking at one ancestor or do you prefer the more usual 'Who Do You Think You Are? 'style? Let us know. If you'd like to find out more about Brendan O'Carroll and his family history, TheGenealogist has a comprehensive history of him in their Featured Articles.

Brendan O'Carroll

Brendan O'Carroll offered a different style to Who Do You Think You Are?

 
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Another great episode of Who Do You Think You Are? last night

The excellent series of Who Do You Think You Are? continued last night looking into the family history of actress Tamzin Outhwaite. Concentrating on her Italian ancestry, the programme showed a fascinating tale of Adelmo Santi and his journey from Braga in Italy to join the Italian community who had settled in Glasgow in 1913. After being called back to Italy for war service in the First World War, Adelmo returns to Scotland in the 1920s with his wife and small son. He then strives to set up and develop an ice cream business, moving to Fishburn in County Durham and despite hardships and becoming interned with his son on the Isle of Man in the Second World War as an 'enemy alien',  Adelmo makes a success of his business and becomes 'the richest man in Fishburn' according to local folklore. Tamzin made a widely travelled and emotional journey looking into her maternal ancestry and it made for a good and interesting programme.  What do you think? Did you enjoy the programme?

Tamzin Outhwaite

An emotional journey for Tamzin Outhwaite in last night's Who Do You Think You Are?

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Tamzin Outhwaite features in the next episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

After a great episode last week featuring Brian Blessed, this Thursday 's 'Who Do You Think You Are? programme features former Eastenders actress and now star of BBC drama 'New Trick's - Tamzin Outhwaite and her family history story. Tamzin's mother,  Anna,   had Italian ancestry from the Santi and Gonnella families and the programme looks in-depth at their experiences moving from Italy to Britain and their hardwork and perseverence in building a life and a successful ice-cream business which gave them wealth. They endured poverty and then internment on the Isle of Man as 'enemy aliens' in the Second World War but overcame these difficulties to build a life for their families in the UK. The programme airs on Thursday 20th August at 9pm on BBC1. If you'd like to find out more, TheGenealogist has looked into Tamzin Outhwaite's family history. The series has been excellent so far. Let us know your thoughts!

Tamzin Outhwaite

Tamzin Outhwaite is next in line to feature on BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?

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Who Do You Think You Are? continues tonight with Brian Blessed

The second episode of the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? continues tonight with actor and director, Brian Blessed. Brian was born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, the son of a socialist miner. However, the programme traces his roots back to Jabez Blessed in the early 1800s. Born in London and orphaned at an early age, then separated from his siblings, Jabez earns money begging and performing acrobatic tricks around Covent Garden. He appears to have a confident and determined personality as he works his way up to become a fairly successful glass and china salesman. There's more details and a preview of the programme on TheGenealogist website. It promises to be another interesting episode, looking at the ups and downs of a Victorian family. The programme is on tonight on BBC1 at 9pm. Will you be watching?

Brian Blessed

Brian Blessed features tonight on Who Do You Think You Are?

 
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New series of Who Do You Think You Are? now underway..

What did you think of the first episode of the new series of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' featuring Julie Walters last night? With the series celebrating its tenth anniversary, the first episode got off to a strong start with a look at the Irish ancestors of Julie Walters and their struggles to get fairer rents and conditions for Irish tenant farmers, as part of the Irish National Land League, in what was known at the time as the 'Land War'.  If you'd like to read a bit more, TheGenealogist.co.uk has put together a special feature looking further at Julie's ancestry. To view the special feature, visit TheGenealogist website. Hopefully the rest of the series will be just as good!

Julie Walters on Who Do You Think You Are?

A great first episode of the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? featuring Julie Walters

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Who Do You Think You Are? celebrates ten years with a special look back

The ever-popular genealogy show 'Who Do You Think You Are?' which embarks upon its 10th series tomorrow night, has a special show tonight on BBC1 looking back at the high points from past series. In this special one-off show, the outstanding moments from the previous series are shown again, featuring the likes of Boris Johnson, Jeremy Paxman, showing humour and tragedy and even moments where celebrities find links to royalty. The series has produced so many remarkable moments, showing the surprises and shocks that can be discovered in the quest to find out more about your ancestors. The one-off special is on BBC1 tonight at 10.35pm. Will you be watching tonight?

Who Do You Think You Are? special

Who Do You Think You Are? special celebrating 10 years is on BBC1 tonight at 10.35pm

 

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Date of first Who Do You Think You Are? Show announced

The first programme date and time has been announced for the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? The first show features Julie Walters and will be screened on Thursday 7 August from 9pm to 10pm. Julie's roots take her back to County Mayo, Western Ireland ,where her great grandfather Anthony Clarke was one of the very first members of the Land League-  a revolutionary organisation formed in 1879, which campaigned for more than 40 years for impoverished tenant farmers to have the rights to own their own land.

Julie Walters on Who Do You Think You Are?

Julie Walters is first to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?

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Running order for Who Do You Think You Are? announced

The running order for series 11 of Who Do You Think You Are? has been released by the BBC. There's no date on the when the first programme is (we presume a mid August start) but the first programme will feature Julie Walters.  The final episode, featuring Billy Connolly, will mark the 100th episode of the programme. It should be a great series. The full running order is as follows: 1. Julie Walters 2. Brian Blessed 3. Tamzin Outhwaite 4. Brendan O'Carroll 5. Sheridan Smith 6. Mary Berry 7. Martin Shaw 8. Reggie Yates 9. Twiggy 10. Billy Connolly

Julie Walters on Who Do You Think You Are?

Julie Walters is first to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?

 
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Celebrities announced for Who Do You Think You Are? 2014

The BBC have now released the names of the celebrities taking part in the forthcoming 10th TV series of Who Do You Think You Are? Much anticipated by family historians, the programme has no schedule date as yet but this is expected to be announced shortly. In the meantime, the celebrities to be featured include Mary Berry, Brian Blessed, Julie Walters, Billy Connolly, Martin Shaw, Tamzin Outhwaite, Twiggy, Reggie Yates, Brendan O'Carroll and Sheridan Smith. It promises to be another great series and shows that even after a decade, the programme is still as popular as ever with us family historians. Will you be watching this summer and which celebrity are you most looking forward to seeing?

Mary Berry

Mary Berry will be one of the celebrities featured on Who Do You Think You Are? this summer

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Live web chat with Mark Bayley of TheGenealogist

Today sees the continuation of the live web chat series on the Who Do You Think You Are? magazine website with the Head of Online Content from TheGenealogist, Mark Bayley, featuring today and answering any questions from family historians. Mark will be offering help and advice from 1pm to 2pm today and more details can be found on the Who Do You Think You Are? website

Mark Bayley

Mark Bayley answering questions on the Who Do You Think You Are? magazine web chat

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