Original version

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

Who Do You Think You Are?

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Families & Relationships

Factual: History

Celebrities trace their family trees, discovering surprises from their pasts.

Lost connections and unfamiliar histories are revealed as celebrities trace their family trees. Discover stories of courage, joy, sacrifice and resilience - everyone has a tale to tell.

BBC HD

BBC Two

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

BBC One West

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

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

BBC One South

BBC One London

London

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

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 North West

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 Yorkshire

BBC One Oxfordshire

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

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

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

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Two England

England

Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 7

Kate Scholefield

Carrie Britton

Rupert Penry-Jones

Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 7: Episode 5: Rupert Penry-Jones

Episode 5

Episode 5: Rupert Penry-Jones

Series 7

BBC One - Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 7, Rupert Penry-Jones

Actor Rupert Penry-Jones traces his family tree to learn about his ancestors.

Actor Rupert Penry-Jones traces his family tree to learn about his ancestors, an investigation which takes him all the way to Allahabad in India.

Actor Rupert Penry-Jones has made his name playing dashing, quintessentially English heroes. But his family background is very different. His mother, actress Angela Thorne, was born in Karachi, when it was part of British India.

Rupert doesn't know much about his Raj relatives, but there is a family story that there is Indian blood in the family. Rupert is keen to find out the truth. He remembers his grandfather on his mothers' side, Bill, who was a doctor in India, and decides to start his search there. 

Bill was a doctor in the Indian Medical Service and saw action in the Second World War, in the Italian Campaign at Monte Cassino. Rupert is keen to find out more about the Field Ambulance corps that Bill commanded, who were supporting the 8th Indian Division at the battle. He travels to Italy, and is humbled and impressed by his grandfather's unsung heroism.

Rupert wants to know when the Indian connection with his family first started. A trail of documents reveal that his great-great-great-great grandfather, Thomas, was the first Thorne in India. Rupert decides to follow in his footsteps to India. He travels to Allahabad, and discovers that Thomas was involved in the Great Indian Rebellion… but Rupert will have to go back even further if he's to discover the truth.

BBC One

Celebrities trace their ancestry, discovering secrets and surprises from their past.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Who Do You Think You Are?

Series 7

Episode 5: Rupert Penry-Jones

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

About BBC One