Original version

BBC One Wales

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

BBC One

BBC 1

BBC1

Wales

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

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 Yorks & Lincs

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

Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 7

Elizabeth Dobson

Carrie Britton

Alan Cumming

Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 7: Episode 9: Alan Cumming

Episode 9

Episode 9: Alan Cumming

Series 7

BBC One - Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 7, Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming attempts to solve the mystery relating to his maternal grandfather.

Award-winning actor and Broadway star Alan Cumming attempts to solve the mystery relating to his maternal grandfather, a soldier who died aged just 35 in Malaysia.

Nine celebrities trace their family trees to explore the lives of their ancestors and uncover major themes in British social history.

Award-winning actor and Broadway star Alan Cumming made his name playing roles in films such as Goldeneye and X-Men. However his childhood was spent far from the glamour of Manhattan where he now lives. 

Growing up in the small town of Aberfeldy, Scotland, Alan knew very little about his family history. With his parents now both in their seventies, he feels it's time to see if he can clear up one big question lingering in the family's past. 

The mystery relates to Alan's maternal grandfather, Thomas Darling. A career soldier who spent most of his life away from home serving in the army, he died, aged just 35, in mysterious circumstances in Malaysia.  

Alan begins by visiting his mother Mary in Dundee, to see what she can tell him about her father. Mary has few memories of him, but she has some documents relating to his military career and a medal he won in the Second World War. She hopes these clues will get Alan started in his search.  

Alan travels to France where he finds out about his grandfather's extraordinary bravery during the evacuation of Dunkirk - he's thrilled by his grandfather's medal-winning exploits. 

Eventually Alan's journey takes him to Malaysia where he discovers the shocking story of how his grandfather really died and makes one last moving discovery about the lasting impact his grandfather made on the village where he was stationed in the months leading up to his death.

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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Who Do You Think You Are?

Series 7

Episode 9: Alan Cumming

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One Wales

About BBC One