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

Sarah Feltes

Colette Flight

Alexander Armstrong

Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 7: Episode 6: Alexander Armstrong

Episode 6

Episode 6: Alexander Armstrong

Series 7

BBC One - Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 7, Alexander Armstrong

Comedian Alexander Armstrong traces his family tree to learn about his ancestors.

Comedian Alexander Armstrong traces his family tree. He knew his family background was likely to be privileged, but he's keen to find out how posh he is.

Comedian Alexander Armstrong always knew his family background was likely to be privileged, but he's keen to find out exactly how posh he is...

Appropriately enough Alexander's journey begins with Burke's Irish Landed Gentry, a register of Britain's landed families. He quickly finds his own name listed under his mother's family name, McCausland, and decides to follow this line to find out more. Moving up the family tree he finds a relative who holds an honoured position in the Royal household of the day. 

Delving into more family papers, Alexander finds a letter from a direct ancestor over two hundred years ago, complaining about the shortcoming of her wastrel eldest son Edward. Alexander discovers that Edward inherits his baronetcy from a cousin and that foul play is suspected. Alexander's aristocratic roots are confirmed.

Searching even further back following a fascinating trail of ancient documents Alexander finds out that he has even more titled relatives descended from one of the richest families in Britain and intimately connected to the King. One is a Royalist military leader during the Civil War, who ploughs all his money into the King's cause. But in a curious twist of fate he ends up being tried for High Treason and finishing his days in a most unexpected way.

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 6: Alexander Armstrong

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

About BBC One