What role does family history play in our daily lives?

Natasha Kaplinsky:

Natasha was born in Britain to South African parents. Although some of her childhood was spent in Kenya, she grew up with a strong sense of her British identity, but knows little about her family history.

Natasha has always known that her father, Raphie, had to flee South Africa in the 1960s because of his involvement in student anti-apartheid protests. He has never wanted to speak fully about his experiences, so Natasha travels to Cape Town to investigate the circumstances that led to her father?s exile. At the city?s university, Natasha is amazed to discover what a vital role her father played in the demonstrations and is shocked to learn of the danger Raphie and his fellow protestors were in.

After investigating the story behind a family heirloom with possible Royal connections, Natasha travels to Belarus in Eastern Europe to explore her Jewish heritage. She attempts to discover the fate of her great-grandparents and two of her great uncles, who were living in the country when the Nazis invaded in WW2. In the bleak, forested landscape Natasha makes some chilling discoveries, but also uncovers a story of courage, survival and hope.

John Hurt:

Family legend states that John?s great-grandmother, Emma Stafford, was the illegitimate daughter of an Irish aristocrat. Although born in England, John is proud of his Irish heritage and hopes this will be the chance to discover the truth about Emma?s parentage.

During his investigations John travels across England and Ireland in search for clues. But the more he learns, the faster the story starts to unravel. As the truth slowly emerges, John uncovers a story of illegitimacy, scandal and cover up. He starts to realise that although the story he was told has become confused over time, one of his ancestors appears to have had a hand in muddying the waters for his own ends.

Griff Rhys Jones:

Griff admits that he has never been that interested in family history. However, there is one story that he does find intriguing. Griff?s mother Gwynneth was in her 20?s when she discovered that the couple she knew as grandma and grandpa, were not her real grandparents at all. Gwynneth was told that her mother had been adopted after her own parents were killed in a train crash. It was only recently that Gwynneth discovered her real grandparents were called Daniel and Sarah Price.

Griff wonders why the story should have been kept secret for so many years. He starts to look into the story of the train crash and quickly discovers that all is not as it seems. Daniel was an engine driver, but there is no sign of either Daniel or Sarah dieing in a train crash. When Griff finally gets to the truth, he uncovers a tale of drunkenness, violent death, poverty, the workhouse.

Carol Vorderman:

Born in Wales, Carol never knew her Dutch father who left home when she was only a few weeks old. As they were only recently reunited, Carol knows almost nothing about her Vorderman ancestors. When her father left, Carol, her mum, brother and sister all moved into a small flat, which had been left to the family by her great-grandfather Daniel Davies. Daniel lived and worked in Prestatyn and became quite a successful businessman. But there has always been a mystery surrounding him. How did a local butcher end up in a photo photograph with Queen Victoria?

In Holland Carol explores the life of the only Vorderman ancestor she knows anything about. Her Great-grandfather Adolphe was a brilliant scientist who helped discover the cure for beriberi. Carol?s mum always claimed that he should have received a Nobel Prize for his work, but the award was blocked because he married an Indonesian woman.

Carol?s final quest is to learn more about her father?s experiences in occupied Holland during WW2. He claims to have been in the resistance during the war, but his memory is failing and he does have a bit of a reputation for story telling. In the Dutch town of Venlo, Carol uncovers the truth behind her father?s wartime activities, but on the final day of filming receives some terrible news from home.

Alistair McGowan:

Alistair has always assumed his family had strong Scottish roots, but has often wondered where he gets his dark eyes and skin tone from. Although his father George was born in Calcutta, Alistair never suspected that he had any Indian blood. It was not until after his father?s death that Alistair realised there may be mixed Indian and British heritage in his families past.

Starting in Calcutta, Alistair?s discovers that several generations of the McGowan family were of Anglo Indian decent. He traces his paternal line in India back to the mid 1700?s, where he uncovers the name of the first McGowan to settle in the country. But there is one final surprise for Alistair when he learns the truth about his Scottish heritage.

Graham Norton:

As a Protestant growing up in Catholic Southern Ireland, Graham sometimes felt that he and his family were made to feel like foreigners in their own country by their Catholic neighbours. He is keen to discover just how deeply rooted in Ireland his family are.

Graham starts by trying to discover why his maternal great-grandmother, Mary Dooey, used of 2 different maiden names. He learns that although she was recorded as a Logan on her marriage certificate, whenever possible Mary preferred to use the name Dooey. As Graham digs deeper into his family?s past, he uncovers a story scandal and illegitimacy, but also courage and determination.

Graham now turns his attention to his father, Billy Walker?s line. Billy?s job took his family all over the Republic of Ireland and as a result Graham never came to think of any one place as ?home?. However, his dad grew up in the small southern Irish village of Carnew and Graham soon discovers that generations of Walkers lived there before him. He learns how his ancestors survived the potato famine, fought and died during the Irish rebellion and uncovers documents that lead him back across the Irish sea, to unlock the Walker?s origins on the British mainland.

Matthew Pinsent:

Having spent so much of his life training for the Olympics, Mathew has had little time to find out about his family?s history. However, since the birth of his twin boys he feels that it?s something he?d like to know more about so in time, he can pass the knowledge on.

Matthew knows that his father?s family was greatly affected by WW1. Two of his grandfather?s brothers were killed, as well as his grandmother Kathleen?s only brother George. Looking through George Macpherson?s school records, Matthew discovers a mystery surrounding his death. According to the records, his great uncle did not die in combat. George commanded a tank during the battle of the Somme. At the Tank Museum in Dorset, Matthew learns that although he was not killed by enemy fire, George was as much a victim of the war as any other casualty.

Matthews journey then takes him to China, where he finds out about his maternal great grandfathers connection with trading company Jardine Matheson and it?s link with a very infamous trade. Back in the UK, Matthew makes a remarkable discovery. After making a link to a very influential aristocratic family, he is able to trace his maternal line family back to some of the biggest characters in British history. With the help of a medieval manuscript, Matthew manages to link his ancestors to the most famous family in history.

Nicky Campbell:

TV and radio presenter Nicky Campbell was adopted a few days after being born in 1961. Having already traced his biological parents some years later, Nicky now decides to trace the history of his adoptive family. He learns about his father Frank's experiences as an officer in Burma during the Second World War, and travels to his grandfather's birthplace in Brisbane, Australia.