Hit family history TV programme Who Do You Think You Are? will return to BBC One at 9pm on Thursday 15 August, featuring celebrities including pop stars Mel C and Olly Murs and actor Vicky McClure.
In the new series, seven celebrities will trace family stories ranging from circus antics to embezzlement, a life-changing accident, the Cold War, and stirring tales of triumph against the odds.
They will travel around the world, including to Ireland, Taiwan, Jamaica and Latvia.
The 2024 series will mark 20 years since the programme was first broadcast in 2004.
Since then, it has featured celebrities including Danny Dyer, Sir Ian McKellen, Kate Winslet and Olivia Colman as they trace their family history.
Simon Young, BBC Head of History, said: “This year we have a stellar line up to mark twenty years of the nation’s favourite social history series. Time and again it proves the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction, while helping us all to understand the history of Britain and the world much better, so it’s clear why our audiences have taken this series to their hearts.
Colette Flight, Executive Producer for Wall to Wall Media, said: “In our twentieth year on air, we’re delighted to be back with more of Britain’s most popular celebrities investigating their family trees. As always, we’ve revealed extraordinary stories and moments from history that we’ve never told before, and the celebrities have been moved to tears, laughter, anger and joy learning about their ancestors’ lives.”
Who Do You Think You Are? 2024 celebrities
Vicky McClure
Actor Vicky McClure starred in the This Is England series and BBC crime drama Line of Duty and can currently be seen in Paramount+ TV series Insomnia. She will discover the harrowing story of her great grandfather’s experiences as a Japanese prisoner of war in the Second World War.
Paddy McGuinness
Paddy McGuinness is a comedian, actor, writer and TV presenter, known for presenting programmes including Take Me Out, Top Gear and A Question of Sport. He will discover the truth about his grandfather’s role in the Second World War and investigate the origins of the McGuinness surname.
Mel C
Melanie Chisholm, known as Mel C, rose to fame as Sporty Spice in 90s girl band the Spice Girls and has continued to have success as a singer and actor. Now, she goes from singing ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ to appearing on the show. In her episode, she will discover a political activist and the story of how her family survived the Great Famine in Ireland.
Rose Ayling-Ellis
Actor Rose Ayling-Ellis is best known for playing Frankie Lewis in EastEnders and winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, where she appeared as the programme’s first deaf contestant. She will discover an incident in her family history which surprisingly mirrors an episode of EastEnders.
Gemma Collins
TV star Gemma Collins rose to fame on reality show The Only Way Is Essex before appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Big Brother, Celebs Go Dating and Dancing on Ice. She also her own reality TV show, Gemma Collins: Diva. On Who Do You Think You Are?, she will discover whether she truly is an Essex girl.
Olly Murs
Singer-songwriter Olly Murs was a runner-up in the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009 and has recorded hit songs including ‘Dance with Me Tonight’ and ‘Troublemaker’. He will travel to Latvia to trace his family history and discover circus performing ancestors.
Jessica Ennis-Hill
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill is a retired track and field athlete specialising in the heptathlon and 100 metre hurdles. She won the gold medal in heptathlon at the 2012 London Olympics. She will travel to Jamaica and learn about her relative’s journey from being enslaved to owning his own land.
