Who Do You Think You Are?

Series 7

Every year the popular BBC seriesWho Do You Think You Are?brings us a host of new and exciting stories. We have taken a look at each celebrity as they journey into their family history, and you can read about their discoveries in our articles.

Series 7 Articles

Alan Cumming

Alan is a well known writer, producer, director and actor with roles in X2: X-Men United and the Spy Kids trilogy and was awarded an OBE for his services to the arts, theatre & film and activism for LGBT rights. The show will follow Alan's maternal grandfather T Darling who served during WW2 and Malayan Emergency. Will his journey to Malaysia unravel the mystery surrounding his grandfathers death aged just 35?

Dirvla Kirwan

This week's episode of Who Do You Think You Are will follow Dervla Kirwan, the Irish Actress best known for her appearances in Ballykissangel and Goodnight Sweetheart. Her great grandmother Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll was the sister of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins. Michael was MP for Cork South & Director of Intelligence for the IRA and later President of the IRB...

Monty Don

We are now into week 4 of the BBC series of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and will be following the story of Monty Don. Monty is best known for presenting 'Gardeners World' on the BBC and was brought up in a small Hampshire village in a house designed by his maternal great grandfather Matthew Wyatt. Through his mother Janet, Monty is descended from the well know Wyatt dynasty of Architects, which spans across the 18th and 19th centuries....

Rupert Penry-Jones

Two weeks ago we discovered Dervla's story and this week the focus is on her husband Rupert's ancestry, which includes visits to Italy and India. It seems there could be truth in the family belief of 'Indian Blood in the family' as Rupert's mother was born in Karachi, India in 1939 to Bill (William Herbert Alfred) Thorne and his wife Sylvia...

Alexander Armstrong

Alexander Henry Fenwick Armstrong was born in Rothbury, Northumberland in 1970 to Dr Henry Angus Armstrong and Emma Thompson-McCausland. On his mother's side, Alexander is descended from one of the wealthiest families in Britain. The Irish McCausland family has aristocratic roots and is well documented in historical records...

Jason Donovan

The 7th Episode of this years Who Do You Think You Are follows Jason Donovan's Australian and English roots. Jason discovered that the show business line goes much deeper on his maternal side with his great grandmother, Eileen Dawson, who started her showbiz career aged 17 and made appearances at the Sydney Opera House. Eileen's grandfather (Jason's 3x Great grandfather), Joseph Lyons was born in London and married to Rosetta. On 23/08/1841 Joseph was found guilty for 'receiving stolen goods' and sent to Australia for 10 years.

Hugh Quarshie

Hugh was born on the 22nd December 1954 in Accra, Ghana, and emigrated to England with his family when he was 3 years old. They departed from Lagos, Nigeria on board the 'Aureol', part of the Elder Dempster Lines Ltd fleet, which was 537ft long and could carry 253 First class passengers, 76 Cabin class and 145 crew. His search into his ancestry uncovers a distinguished European line and also a chieftaincy in Ghana...

Bruce Forsyth

Who Do You Think You Are? kicks off series 7 with family favourite Bruce Forsyth. Brucie was born in Edmonton North London in 1928, to John Thomas Forsyth Johnson and Florence Ada Pocknell. Bruce's 4x great grandfather William Forsyth was famously a co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society and the Forsythia plant was named in his honour.

Rupert Everett

The latest celebrity to feature on the on the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? is British actor Rupert Everett. His family tree shows a broad heritage with ancestors in the south and north of England, Wales and Scotland.