As a seasoned movie reviewer with a penchant for delving into the intricacies of family histories, I must confess that my latest obsession has been the long-running British series, “Who Do You Think You Are?” This captivating documentary-style show has taken me on a whirlwind journey through the lives and lineages of some of the most esteemed figures in the UK.

Colette Flight hasn’t delved into her personal family background up until now. “I wish I could squeeze it in,” she jokes, when asked about it. This seems rather amusing given her professional role, as she is the executive producer of the show titled Who Do You Think You Are?

According to her, the show stays fresh due to its powerful central concept. She explains that while it’s not drastically different, we continue to enjoy watching well-known personalities embark on real journeys of exploration and self-discovery.

Who Do You Think You Are? might have fundamentally stayed the same over 20 series, but the “game changer” has been the digitisation of newspapers across the UK. “When the show started, a researcher would need a whole day to search for something that can now be accessed very quickly. However, there are also records that are only held in archives, so our team will have to go in person and scour through them for hours on end. Luckily our amazing team of researchers are very skilled detectives.”

In my perspective as a movie critic, discussing my favorite episodes of “Asking Flight” proves to be quite the challenge due to the sheer wealth of captivating stories. However, one episode that truly stands out for me is the one featuring former “Strictly” dancer, Kevin Clifton, broadcasted in 2023. The reason this episode resonates with me is because it unveiled a fascinating family mystery surrounding Kevin’s ancestry.

Among the early famous figures that Flight collaborated with was actress Kim Cattrall, best known for her role in “Sex and the City.” Born in Liverpool, Kim’s maternal grandfather abandoned their family when her mother was only eight years old, leaving behind Kim’s mother and three young sisters.

In this episode, we introduced a unique narrative – our very first single story. This detective story unfolded with an intriguing twist: after leaving, Kim’s grandfather mysteriously vanished, never to be heard from again. The plot hit particularly close to home for Kim because it significantly affected her mother and aunts. Laden with unexpected twists and turns, the tale culminated in the revelation that Kim’s grandfather was indeed a bigamist who relocated to Australia. Despite the shocking answers not aligning with her expectations, Kim found closure.

According to Flight, the program, which garnered two Best Feature Baftas under her leadership in 2017 and 2019, has sparked the public’s seemingly endless curiosity about genealogy. This is due to the fact that everyone, whether famous or not, will inevitably discover astonishing, challenging, and inspiring stories about their ancestors, she explains.

Flight points out that the universal themes explored in the series have been a significant factor in its lasting popularity. “Family trees mold us and, consequently, our country.” Additionally, it’s worth noting that reality can sometimes be more extraordinary than any work of fiction. “Indeed! The tales we discover are often so unbelievable, we find ourselves saying they would make captivating television dramas.”

Danny Dyer

In a shocking revelation, an actor on the long-running series “EastEnders” uncovered an astounding family history. Not only did they find out that Thomas Cromwell, a close advisor to Henry VIII, was their great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather 15 times removed, but they also learned they are descendants of Edward III, their great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather 22 times over. To top it off, when Dyer visited the burial site of Edward III, they were informed that their ancestry can be traced back to William the Conqueror.

Dame Judi Dench

In a particularly thrilling instance, an esteemed Shakespearean actor uncovered a fascinating family history: Her Irish ancestor, a man who had been married six times, tied the knot with a woman from Copenhagen in the latter part of the 17th century. This relative’s ten-times great-aunt was a member of the Danish court, serving as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. The chilling revelation? That same ancestor worked at Kronborg Castle, a location known by the name Elsinore – which, coincidentally, is the setting for the castle in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.

Alex Scott

Alex Scott learned with sadness that one of her paternal ancestors, who had both white and black heritage, owned slaves. Simultaneously, she uncovered that her maternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia and that her great-grandfather took part in the Cable Street Battle, where London’s East End protesters halted a fascist march in 1936.

Sir Ian McKellen

As a follower, I’ve learned that I’m connected to an interesting family history. It turns out that my great-great-uncle was a renowned actor in Manchester, while my great-great-grandfather, Robert Lowes, worked as a warehouse clerk and served as the director of the Salford Lyceum. This educational institution provided local workers with opportunities to advance their knowledge. My ancestor, Lowes, was instrumental in advocating for workers to have afternoons off on Saturdays, which eventually led to the establishment of weekends. Now, he’s commonly recognized as the precursor of modern weekend leisure.

Sir Matthew Pinsent

The Olympic gold medalist shared on the program, “I’d be thrilled to meet an individual who bucked tradition, or someone daringly unconventional, or a true trailblazer.” What he didn’t anticipate was discovering royal roots. While tracing his mother’s family history, he uncovered that he is a descendant of Edward I and William I, just like Danny Dyer.

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2024-08-07 15:04