Well-known Australians play detective as they go in search of their family history, revealing secrets from the past. Taking us to all corners of Australia and the globe are six stories of individuals seeking to find the definitive answer to where they came from. Along the way secrets are uncovered and histories are revealed—from adultery and madness to children born out of wedlock and even the whiff of a right royal scandal—with each individual discovering that their ancestors form an integral part of not only their own identity, but that of the nation. Combining emotional and personal journeys with big-picture history, these inspiring and sometimes challenging stories remind us how Australians have come to be the people that we are today. Considering Australia's multicultural background, this is a global story, with each celebrity tracing their ancestors around the world...
Ben is driven to discover if, as family legend suggests, he is related to the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn of "The Wedding March" fame.
TV personality Scott Cam reveals his paternal family changed their surname from Caminiti to Cam during World War Two. But, beyond this historical detail, Scott knows little about his Italian ancestors, including what compelled them to leave their homeland for a ‘sunburnt country'.
Journalist and television personality Lisa Wilkinson is on a deeply personal quest to unearth the truth about her maternal ancestors. Lisa's mother, Beryl, was born illegitimately, and right up until her recent death, had many unanswered questions about her identity. Lisa encounters her Irish three-times great-grandmother, Eliza O'Brien, whose complex, troubled life has uncanny parallels with her own mother's story. On her father's side, Lisa travels to colourful India, where she discovers her two-times great-grandmother, Ann Beech, whose life shifts from poverty to privilege and back again.
Veteran entertainer Bert Newton discovers the father he never knew was a true patriot who devoted his life to his country. His maternal grandmother Alice leaves a lasting impression of a woman of great fortitude who fought for women's rights and was surrounded by the love of her children, despite the criminal neglect of her husband.
Long intrigued by the origins of his surname, actor Cameron Daddo travels across the globe to the Channel Islands and discovers a thousand years of noble ancestors. Meanwhile, his mother's lineage, though devoid of noble origins, reveals a surprising parallel to his father's. Cameron will discover both sides of his family feature love stories of staggering proportions.
When Celia Pacquola digs into her beloved mum's family, she finds her three times Scottish great grandfather, John Rae, was Sydney's first Town Clerk.
When Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull opens the book on his family history, curiosity turns to fascination when he discovers a mysterious unclaimed fortune.
Denise Drysdale takes a DNA test, and it's no surprise to find her family hails from Scotland. But it is a shock to discover she also has DNA links to Northern Ireland.
Actor and director Simon Baker discovers an incredible legacy left by his three-times great grandfather and the remarkable courage and fortitude of his female ancestors.
Radio and Television Broadcaster Myf Warhurst is determined to learn the truth about a "handshake adoption" in her paternal line.
Legendary rugby league footballer Justin Hodges is on a mission to learn more about his indigenous family history.
Comedian Barry Humphries investigates a royal scandal from his father's ancestry, and unravels his mysterious maternal family history.
In this episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, journalist Jenny Brockie digs into her mother's family history and discovers her 3x great grandparents were a gang member and brothel owner from Ireland. Their story becomes one of crime, resilience, and ultimately making the most of opportunities in colonial Australia. Turning to her paternal line, Jenny embarks on an emotional journey to solve the mystery of her father's ancestry. She uncovers great tales of history and hardship, and ultimately finds a connection she has yearned for her entire life.
Chef Manu Feildel visits France to trace the tradition of culinary excellence in his ancestors on his mother's side and reconnects with his father to learn more about his family's possible Viking lineage on the paternal side.
Mirando Otto tests her ancestry and learns a life-altering truth about her father, fellow actor Barry Otto.
Feminist author Kathy Lette is thrilled to discover formidable females in Norway and a resilient First Fleet convict who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of the American War of Independence.
As she traces elusive ancestors from London to Cyprus to New Zealand, actor and producer Claudia Karvan is floored and unexpectedly moved by the tragedy and courage of her family's past.
Actor Patrick Brammall uncovers a long-held maternal family secret and is deeply impressed by his paternal great grandfather's public and private life.
Unravelling his rich, multicultural heritage, actor Mark Coles Smith is shocked to discover a Nazi in his paternal ancestry, and digging deep into his maternal ancestry, he uncovers a long-buried family secret.
Author and adventurer Gina Chick goes looking for a wild streak in her maternal ancestry, and she is determined to find out the identity of her biological grandfather. Through DNA testing, the family mystery is solved, but when Gina charts the life of her enigmatic grandfather, she finds a story of unspeakable tragedy that befell the family during World War One.
Complete episode guide for Who Do You Think You Are? with detailed information about every season and episode including air dates, summaries, ratings, and streaming availability in United States.
This episode guide is organized by seasons, making it easy to track your viewing progress or find specific episodes. Use the episode information to plan your binge-watching sessions or catch up on missed episodes.
Actor Rodger Corser rose to fame for his roles in the award-winning crime series Underbelly and the critically-acclaimed Glitch, and for the series lead on Doctor, Doctor. But while Rodger is comfortable donning the mask of a character, exploring his own identity is a little more daunting.
When swimmer Lisa Curry delves into her maternal family past, she finds hard working German immigrants who risked everything to become the masters of their own destiny in Queensland. Lisa's distant relationship with her late father had a profound effect on her life. But by tracing his life and her paternal ancestors in war-torn Ireland, Lisa comes to terms with who her father was, and finally gets to farewell him in her own way.
Comedian Denise Scott's search to find the truth about a dark family secret brings surprising results, while her Dad's family tree produces a highly unconventional ancestor. On her maternal side, she uncovers dark secrets, and closes a chapter on a long-standing family cover-up.
Kat Stewart's stable and loving upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of ethics, and it's with this belief that she goes on her ancestral journey, seeking characters who were both principled and just a little bit colourful. She'll soon discover a strong Irish woman who experienced her fair share of tragedy, and an Englishman who had a pioneering role during a contentious time in Colonial Australia.
Australia's first female Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, has always had a love for the world, and she's now on a mission to discover where she inherited her globetrotting, adventurous spirit from.
Jeff Fatt, famous as the Purple Wiggle, knows his Chinese roots go back four generations into Australia's history, but he wants details of why those ancestors came to Australia.
Actor, former self-described 'serial pest', and member of the Stolen Generation, Uncle Jack Charles has never known the love of a parent. He will uncover details of the father he never knew.
While looking into his father's side of the family, television presenter Grant Denyer finds his three times great grandfather, Charles Kennard Ward, at the centre of a shocking secret.
Setting out to discover if a mysterious Spanish governess actually existed in her Mum's family, Chris Bath finds instead an adventurer with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Singer and actor Natalie Bassingthwaighte says members of her maternal family always hold their cards close to their chest. As a result, Natalie knows little of her family history.
Best known for the television series Bondi Vet, Dr. Chris Brown seeks to solve a longstanding family mystery.
Paula Duncan, an actress, and philanthropist looks into an unexplored branch of her paternal ancestry and is confronted by the brutality of colonial Australia's past.
Former radio host and senator, Derryn Hinch uncovers the truth about the identity of his mother's father and investigates the paternal side of his family's war history. Derryn submits to a DNA test with heart-rending results,
Entertainer Rhonda Burchmore finds out about the maternal grandfather she never knew, and a fascinating entrepreneur with an amazing legacy on her father's side.
Artistic director and choreographer Stephen Page uncovers the truth about his Aboriginal ancestry, and meets his previously unknown family in the South Pacific
Comedian Peter Helliar discovers a maternal ancestor's traumatic experience in Gallipoli, and a paternal link to an Irish rogue, and a pioneer of the Australian Football League..
Television and stage actor Kerry Armstrong discovers a lineage of rebellious and free-spirited women, and explores her strange connection to the sea.
Actor and musician John Waters discovers a paternal heritage of working class radicals, and a maternal ancestor at the heart of colonial Caribbean history.
Actor and director Wayne Blair uncovers the little-known story of his Woppaburra ancestors from Queensland's Keppel Islands and discovers an extraordinary twist in his paternal ancestry.
Hunting an elusive ancestor who changed the family's name, comedian Tom Gleeson comes face to face with convicts, murderers, thieves and a formidable woman.
Documentary filmmaker and TV presenter Marc Fennell travels to Singapore and Malaysia seeking to connect with his Indian ancestry and, in Ireland, he unearths a tale of forbidden lovers amidst the Irish War of Independence.
Actor, director and writer, Matt Nable goes on an Australia-wide manhunt for an ancestor who deserted his wife and 14 kids. Looking into his Jewish heritage, Matt makes a shock discovery that will rewrite his whole family story.