Who Do You Think You Are?

Series 18

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 18 Articles

Who Do You Think You Are? 2021 Series 18

"Who Do You Think You Are? is back with another line-up of Britain's best-loved celebrities exploring their family histories across the UK, Ireland, Denmark and Jamaica. The incredible personal stories they unearth of their ancestors' lives - from royal love triangles to labourers fighting for their rights, from Victorian child sweeps to battling fascists in London's East end – reflect and illuminate all our collective history." - Collette Flight, Executive Producer

Josh Widdicombe

Though he was born in London, and now lives back in the capital city, he grew up in Dartmoor, Devon. In his episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (to be broadcast on BBC One on Tuesday 12th October 2021) he reveals that it was such a small rural community that there were only four children in his village class. Warning! Article contains spoilers for the programme to be broadcast Tuesday 12th October 2021.

Dame Judi Dench

Named Britain's best actor on multiple occasions. Her roles range from James Bond films to Shakespearean dramas and in the episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (to be broadcast on BBC One on Tuesday 19 October 2021) Dame Judi tells how her parents were both incredibly full of life with lots of visits to theatre as a child. She discovers that her Irish cousins have found a review of her very first professional performance in Hamlet in 1957. Warning! Article contains spoilers for the programme to be broadcast Tuesday 19th October 2021.

Alex Scott

Alexandra Virina Scott MBE is an English television presenter, pundit, and former professional footballer. She was brought up in a single parent family in London after her father left when she was about 7 or 8 years old. She admits to the camera in the Who Do You Think You Are? episode to be shown on BBC One on Tuesday 26 October 2021, that she comes from a family that just didn't ask many questions about where they came from. Warning! Article contains spoilers for the programme to be broadcast Tuesday 26th October 2021.

Joe Lycett

Joe Lycett is well known to many as a British comedian and television presenter. In his episode he tells the viewers that he had a warm loving upbringing. He goes on to say that he would be very surprised if he was going anywhere other than Birmingham or Nottingham. Warning! Article contains spoilers for the programme to be broadcast Tuesday 2nd November 2021.

Pixie Lott

Pixie Lott is a singer, songwriter and talent show judge from Bromley in Kent and hopes to discover the truth about a family story that claims she has Italian ancestry. She has heard that her grandfather's family potentially came from Verona and that there is also an Irish connection. "I just think I'm a bit of an old soul. I am fascinated with the past. Especially finding out my own history...where I came from and seeing if it makes sense with today and what I do now." Warning! Article contains spoilers for the programme to be broadcast Tuesday 9th November 2021.

Joe Sugg

Joseph Graham Sugg is a YouTuber, actor, author and finalist from Strictly Come Dancing in 2019. As far as he knows, his mum's family come from Wiltshire and he has a strong relationship with his maternal grandparents and would love to discover more about that side of the family. "Amongst my ancestors there’s this recurring theme of determination. Throughout all those troubled times they have really stuck at it and worked hard and it has paid off." Warning! Article contains spoilers for the programme to be broadcast Tuesday 23rd November 2021.

Ed Balls

Edward Michael Balls is a British broadcaster, writer, economist, professor and former Labour politician who served as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2011 to 2015. As a child he grew up in a family that wanted to make the world a better place. Ed knows very little about his family history and he sets out to discover what kind of characters his ancestors were. Warning! Article contains spoilers for the programme to be broadcast Tuesday 30th November 2021.