I’ve always liked Chris Moyles; he’s large, he’s gobby, he’s down to earth and he’s funny, and, judging by last night’s latest instalment of Who Do You Think You Are, he’s done well to overcome the misery and adversity – DNA-wise – that dogged his ancestors.

His forebears all hailed from Ireland and according to Chris, “Before I came along, I don’t think our family amounted to anything.”

Well, maybe not, but they were sorta busy coping with famines, wars and rampant dying from TB.

Chris’s family history is liberally littered with sad stories, one of which was that of his granny who grew up in the slums of Dublin and ultimately found herself sharing one room with her very large family. Also, Chris’s great-grandmother was just 33 years old when she died of TB in a workhouse. She’d been sent there so as not to infect her children. And on his paternal side, things weren’t a whole lot better… Read more & comment »

Tonight Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles traces his Irish roots by travelling to Dublin and Ballina, Co Mayo, where he uncovers the trials and tribulations of his ancestors, including those of his maternal grandmother who was separated from her parents at a very early age.

He also discovers the fate of his great-grandfather, who fought in the World War One

Tonight at 9:00pm – BBC1

Former chat show king, Michael Parkinson has admitted that he lost a slot on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are because his ancestors are too boring.

Parkinson revealed that he was approached by the BBC about appearing on the show but then dropped after they failed to dig any dirt on his family.

Speaking to the Radio Times, he explained: “I’m addicted to Who Do You Think You Are?. It’s the fascination we all have for our roots – the intriguing story of our lives.”

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Radio One DJ Chris Moyles has admitted that he broke down in tears whilst filming for BBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are.’

He told ITV1’s This Morning: “I did cry at the end … it was long 12 hour days, all done in a week, and you know nothing – you’re drip fed bits of information, and it is information overload.”

“I had to sit in my hotel at night and make my family tree to remind me who all these names were, and there’s a bit right at the end of the show where I get upset.

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Next Wednesday on BBC Two, Davina McCall makes some intriguing and shocking discoveries as she delves into her family’s past. As a child of divorced parents, Davina, who is half-French, was brought up by her paternal grandmother in England and knows very little about her maternal French heritage. She also wants to find out if there is any truth behind the story that has been passed down for generations, claiming that the English side of her family is descended illegitimately from royal blood.

Davina’s grandmother reveals that she believes Davina’s great great, great, great-grandfather, James Thomas Bedborough, is the illegitimate son of George IV. The trail does indeed lead to Windsor but not quite in the way Davina expected.

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Journalist and television presenter Fiona Bruce traces her family’s roots, focusing on those of her great-grandfather, who joined the army to escape from his parents but was killed in mysterious circumstances during World War One. She also learns about her great-great-grandfather, a highly respected Victorian photographer, before travelling to the Scottish fishing village of Hopeman to investigate the hardships suffered by her relatives

Tonight, 9pm BBC One

Former Friends actor, David Schwimmer has reportedly signed up for the new TV series of BBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are’.

The Sun reports that the 42 year old hopes to trace his family heritage back to Eastern Europe.

“It’s a tribute to the show that A-list stars are lining up to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?,” said a source.

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Jerry Springer has become the latest in a long line of celebrities to sign up for the TV series, ‘Who Do You Think You Are.’

The show helps stars to trace their family trees and heritage, and Jerry has revealed that he thinks the show will lead him to Auschwitz, where some of his family died.

During an interview for ET, Springer revealed: “I show up in England with my passport and they take me around the world. They’ve already arranged it, but I don’t know where they’re taking me. Read more & comment »