Jeremy Paxman

1Jeremy Paxman

60 minJan 11, 2006Now viewing

Jeremy Paxman's not sure he's interested in family history, but he does love social history. However, he quickly realises that his family's story is inextricably linked to that of Britain.

2Sheila Hancock

60 minJan 18, 2006

Sheila Hancock believed that her family's history was very boring. But she discovers that her grandfather was a successful manager and guide for Thomas Cook's travel agents in Milan.

3Stephen Fry

60 minJan 25, 2006

Stephen Fry knows that people always think of him as being quintessentially English, but his mother is from a large European Jewish family. Stephen traces his maternal grandfather, Martin Neumann, back to modern-day Slovakia.

4Julian Clary

60 minFeb 1, 2006

Growing up Clary knew very little about his family history. His Grandfather had died before Julian was born and was curious about his story. Clary found out that his grandfather was on the front line of WW1 and was very important of post war history.

5Jane Horrocks

60 minFeb 8, 2006

Jane Horrocks's family history is rooted in Lancashire - three generations of her family lived in the same street in Rawtenstall. Her ancestors form part of the town's cotton-weaving heritage.

6Gurinder Chadha

60 minFeb 15, 2006

Gurinder Chadha, director of Bend It Like Beckham, grew up in Southall in West London. But she was born in Kenya, and her family's story is tied up with that of the British Empire.