Who Do You Think You Are?

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

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.

Chris Ramsey

BBC One London

London

BBC One West 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 HD

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One East

BBC One North West

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

BBC One London HD

BBC One North West HD

BBC One Yorkshire

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 Yorks & Lincs

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 HD

BBC One South East HD

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 North East & Cumbria

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Cambridgeshire 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

BBC One Yorkshire HD

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One East Midlands HD

BBC One West HD

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

BBC One HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

BBC One Nightlight

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One South HD

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

BBC One South West HD

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

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

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

To allow the historical schedules to be captured and assist in analytics and associating audience data with rights stakeholders

BBC History Channel

Phil Davis

Colette Flight

Sarah Feltes

Hannah Mirsky

Toby Roebuck

Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 20: Chris Ramsey

Series 20

BBC One - Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 20, Chris Ramsey

Comedian Chris Ramsey discovers he’s from a long line of startlingly lucky ancestors.

Chris Ramsey has always felt lucky, so he’s delighted to learn it runs in the family as he uncovers the stories of ancestors who survived a deadly WWI battle and won a lottery.

Comedian Chris Ramsey draws huge audiences to his live comedy shows and also presents a podcast and TV show with his wife Rosie about the trials and tribulations of being married with children. From a South Shields working-class family, Chris feels he has a charmed and lucky life and wonders if his ancestors were as fortunate.
 
He starts by investigating his great-grandad Dryden Gordon Young, who fought in the First World War. A trip to the military base in Dorset where Dryden trained reveals he fought at Gallipoli, one of the deadliest campaigns of the war. After surviving the battle, Dryden’s luck takes a different turn as he avoids fighting on the western front due to a nasty case of scabies and, after being captured, becomes a prisoner of war in Germany. Despite being involved in some of the most dangerous events of the war, Dryden survived to continue the family line.
 
Chris discovers more good fortune in his family when he learns about his grandad Alf Ramsey, who served in the navy in the Second World War. A trip to HMS Belfast reveals the freezing and dangerous conditions Alf endured during his work on the Arctic convoys, transporting vital supplies from Britain to Russia via the Arctic Ocean. After surviving German bombers and sub-zero temperatures, Alf later became one of the first British servicemen to witness the devastating aftermath of atomic warfare in Japan.
 
Chris discovers his lucky streak actually goes back centuries, with the curious story of his five-times great-grandparents Gabriel and Ann’s experiences at London’s British Lying-In Hospital. One of the few places where poorer women could give birth in safer and more sanitary conditions, it was extremely difficult to secure a place there. In the late 18th century, when his five-times great-grandmother Ann was pregnant, only those lucky enough to pass a rigorous interview and then win a lottery were able to give birth there and help ensure that their children enjoyed a better start in life.
 
By the end of his journey, Chris’s sense of good fortune is firmer than ever. He’s here because of a long line of brave and determined ancestors, all helped along by a healthy dose of good luck.

Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 20

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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Who Do You Think You Are?

Series 20

Chris Ramsey

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One Wales

About BBC One