DNA Journey - Episode Guide

In episode 1, sporting legends Freddie Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp face a different kind of challenge than they're used to - embarking on a road trip that takes them North and South to discover each other's family histories using DNA and genealogy....meeting family they never knew existed.

TV personalities Amanda Holden and Alan Carr enthusiastically embrace delving into their family history on a road trip that covers Cornwall, London and Erith. Using both DNA and genealogy, they are able to unlock the secrets of the past and meet close family they never knew existed.

In true Upstairs, Downstairs fashion, Amanda's journey starts in the grounds of a stately home in Cornwall, while Alan's journey takes him to a pub in Erith with something of a colourful past.

Both celebrities are shocked and emotional to find ancestors with lives spookily entwined with their own modern-day histories and passions. It's almost like it's written in their DNA.

This time, father and son duo Martin and Roman Kemp delve into their family history which spans North London and the North East. As Roman's journey takes him to the British Museum, Martin comes face to face with a past that was never spoken about as he hears tales of female heroism. Later, the pair are shocked to find ancestors leading parallel lives with their own.

The return of the show in which celebrities explore their family histories using DNA technology and genealogy, beginning with The Chase stars Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace. The duo discover where they come from and unearth secrets from their past in a life changing and emotional voyage of discovery, as well as coming face to face with living relatives they never before knew existed.

Actors Dame Maureen Lipman and Rula Lenska who met on the set of Corrie, come together to embark on a journey to uncover their family history. A classic case of ‘Upstairs Downstairs', Rula's family are Polish Aristocracy while Maureen's are trade from Hull.
 
What the two ladies don't know, however, is how their families aren't as poles apart as they think. There are some gobsmacking revelations waiting for them in Poland as Maureen is blown away by her unknown connection to Rula's homeland.
 
From uncovering heroines, to palaces, to family fortunes, this episode has it all. However, most profoundly, our unlikely duo find their surprising friendship isn't so surprising after all; when they look back into the past, it's almost as if they were destined to be friends in the future.

Olympic legends Torvill and Dean embark on a journey that brings them even closer as they uncover their family history using DNA and genealogy. Chris discovers living relatives on his mother's side that he never knew existed, while Jane uncovers an astounding connection to West Ham and another record-breaking sporting relative.

Comedians and best friends Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan embark on a road trip to find out about their family histories using a mix of DNA and genealogy. The documentary promises plenty of belly laughs along the way, while also showing another side of the funnymen as they meet relatives that they never knew existed.

TV presenters Kate Garraway and Alison Hammond embark on a road trip to find out about their family history using a mix of DNA and genealogy, and by meeting living family members they never knew existed. Kate is excited as she is heading to London to meet her cousins for the first time. For Alison, visiting Jamaica - the homeland of her recently deceased mum, is an incredibly emotional and moving journey, one that brings her closer to her mum as she finds out the most jaw-dropping of maternal histories.

Old friends and now hugely successful comedians, Joel Dommett and Tom Allen are delving into their family history, as they embark on a road-trip around the UK. Through detailed genealogy and cutting-edge DNA, they'll learn of jaw dropping long lost cousins and heroic family histories.  

From London to Edinburgh to Ireland, this trip reveals what makes the pair the way they are. Joel has always felt rootless and is desperate to belong somewhere, whilst after losing his beloved father, Tom hopes learning about his past will cement his dad's presence. This duo's journey is full of emotion, a deep genuine friendship and of course, many laughs.  

Joel learns of an ancestor who not once, but twice, produced inventions that saved thousands, if not tens of thousands of lives – and it could be said helped end the First World War. Heading north, rootless Joel discovers where his DNA says he truly belongs, and it's a big surprise.

Plummy Tom has always felt like a fish out of water in his south London family – but an Irish ancestor reveals it may be his DNA is to blame. He discovers the emotional story of his great grandparents, from a criminal past to a successful career on the stage and the tragic turn that meant they had to give up their baby girl, Tom's beloved grandmother, for adoption. And everyone gets the shock of their lives when it's revealed Tom is related to true TV Royalty.   

Gavin and Stacey favourites, actors Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman, embark on a road trip to find out their family history using a mix of DNA and genealogy, meeting living family members they never knew existed, along the way.

One of the most emotional DNA Journeys yet filmed, Alison comes to learn, through production and subsequent filming that her father George Percy was adopted. Neither her nor the family had any idea. Propelled to know as much as she can and supported by her great friend, Larry they go on a journey that takes them to the Isle of Man, as Alison gets to know the story behind the Granny she never knew.

For Larry, a series of delightful coincidence occur. There's the entertaining bombshell that he's related to one of the world's first famous movie stars, a Canadian actress called Florence Lawrence. A pure coincidence, but Canada is the place where Larry started his acting career himself. He also finds out where his Jewish roots come from, all the way from Lithuania  which just happens to be where his best mate hails from. Larry is blown away by the strange and wonderful connections.

Acclaimed actor and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, and one of the UK's successful comedians John Bishop, make for an unlikely friendship. However, a chance meeting in a Covid vaccine centre has made them mates and now they're about to cement that friendship on a road trip to discover their family history - but what they both don't know is that they have a deeper connection to each other through their ancestors.

Anarchic comedian Johnny Vegas and broadcaster Alex Brooker embark on a road trip to explore their family histories. Alex knows nothing about his family history, and is blown away to find a relative who met Jack the Ripper. Meanwhile, Johnny is aware that generations of his family have worked in St Helens, and is fascinated to learn of the ancestor who moved his family northwards through the booming industry of glassblowing.

In episode 3, Line of Duty stars Neil Morrissey and Adrian Dunbar met on their audition day for Guildhall drama school in London. A meeting that sparked a 42 year long friendship. Now using DNA and genealogy they are on a journey that will take them across the UK and Ireland, reconnecting with lost cousins and unearthing long held family secrets. 

Oti and Motsi Mabuse head on a journey across their homeland of South Africa to explore their extraordinary family history. The sisters have tried to explore their history before, but with records for black South Africans almost nonexistent, going on their DNA journey is the last roll of the dice to discover their roots.

Critically acclaimed actors, John Simm and Philip Glenister forged their close friendship on set of the iconic drama, Life On Mars. Seventeen years later, the best mates have teamed up for an altogether different kind of adventure - their DNA journey - to delve into their family histories.

When DNA tests reveal unexpected surprises, side by side, the pair navigate their way around revelation after revelation with searing honesty, humour and supportiveness.

The Royle Family stars Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston met when they were first cast as husband and wife in Brookside. A meeting that sparked a 40-year long friendship, bonded by their love of Liverpool, social justice and left-wing politics. Now, using DNA and genealogy they are on a journey that will take them across the UK, reconnecting with lost cousins and unearthing long held family secrets.  

Scouser Ricky's story begins with a surprise in the Lake District, as he discovers his family has roots there. Arriving in the stunning surrounds of Ambleside, Ricky is delighted to discover his ancestor would have worked as a tailor, no doubt crossing paths with literary great and good such as Dickens and Wordsworth as they spent seasons in the town to gather inspiration. But it's his social conscience that really grabs Ricky's heart when he realises his relative was instrumental in speaking out for change for those living in poverty.

Actors James Nesbitt and Sarah Parish embark on a quest to find close connections as they dive into their separate family histories. Sarah discovers the source of her passion for education dates back to the 1800s and her great-great-granduncle who successfully campaigned to make education possible for every child in Scotland and James learns about his grandfather's heroic last stand before he became a prisoner of war to the Germans in the First World War

Acclaimed actors Fay Ripley and Hermione Norris - both of whom shot to fame in Cold Feet - discover their extraordinary family histories together.

Acerbic comedians and old friends Julian Clary and Jo Brand discover their family history using a mix of DNA and genealogy while meeting living cousins.

Having been best friends since I'm a Celebrity..., Sam Thompson and Marvin Humes now dive into their DNA journey to discover their family histories.