The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

Heir Hunters

Factual: Money

Series following the work of heir hunters

Series following the work of heir hunters, probate detectives looking for distant relatives of people who have died without making a will

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

Heir Hunters: Series 3

Livia Russell

Matthew Gordon

Barbara Altounyan

Heir Hunters: Series 3: Episode 13: Lee/Allen

Factual: Life Stories

Episode 13

Episode 13: Lee/Allen

Series 3

Lee/Allen

BBC One - Heir Hunters, Series 3, Lee/Allen

The team investigates the cases of Elfie Lee and millionairess Dorothea Allen.

The team casts its net across the world in search of heirs for Elfie Lee, who left behind a 300,000 pound estate, and Dorothea Allen, a millionairess with a double life.

The heir hunters hit the road again as they seek out people entitled to inherit money from long-forgotten relatives.

Elfie Lee died aged 92 in 2005, leaving behind an unclaimed estate of 300,000 pounds but no immediate family. As they hunt for potential heirs, the team members at Fraser and Fraser are forced to spread the net far and wide.  As the trail snakes its way through the Sudan, Algeria, Egypt and Zimbabwe, it becomes apparent that Elfie's story is inextricably linked to the spread of a communications system that revolutionised the 19th century and helped ensure the smooth running of the British Empire.

Back in England, Suffolk based Mitchell and Co is investigating the extraordinary case of Dorothea Allen. A high-society millionairess who made her fortune from a massively successful corsetry business, she owned a huge mansion, exquisite furniture, lavish jewellery and the obligatory Rolls-Royce. But as investigators discover, Dorothea led an incredible double-life, and as the mystery deepens the team wonders what dark secrets could have led her to systematically destroy her own identity?

BBC One

BBC One is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964. It replaced BBC Television.

BBC 1

BBC1

Series following the work of probate detectives.

Series which follows the work of teams of probate detectives, who track down missing family members of people who have died without making a will.

BBC One London

London

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One North West

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One Yorkshire

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One Cambridgeshire

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Heir Hunters

Series 3

Episode 13: Lee/Allen

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC One West

About BBC One