Since 2004, Who Do You Think You Are has traced the ancestries of well-known people and uncovered their footsteps while telling their forgotten stories.
Throughout the one-hour episode, viewers gain rare insight into a celebrity’s lineage, where tales of heartbreak, bravery, and loss often come to light.
The past 21 seasons have seen the likes of , , Jeremy Irons, Vicky McClure and Patrick Stewart take part.
However, some of the documentary’s most shocking discoveries include that of chef and TV host Ainsley Harriott.
The 67-year-old travelled to Jamaica, where he learned that his great-great-grandfather, James Gordon Harriott, wasn’t a black slave as he had thought, but the descendant of a long line of white slave owners.
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Ainsley Harriott starred on Who Do You Think You Are (Image: BBC)
Taking in the discovery, Ainsley stated: “Good or bad, it’s part of my makeup,” as he continued to learn of another ancestor.
In the time of slavery, the unmarried “free black” woman accumulated enough money to buy seven houses after being granted freedom.
Ainsley then travelled to Barbados and confirmed that his great-grandfather had a distinguished military career.
The chef learnt that he had fought for the British Empire in the Sierra Leone Hut Tax War, an increasingly violent protest against British tax collecting in the protectorate.
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Danny Dyer learned his had Royal connections (Image: BBC)
Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer’s connection to royalty was an astounding discovery which left him in disbelief after the beginning of his journey to the past told stories of poverty and the workhouse.
However, things quickly changed after they hit an aristocratic line including that of Thomas Cromwell, the chief advisor to King Henry VIII.
The actor then found out he was a direct descendant of King Edward III, to which the stunned star said: “I can’t be, I can’t be.”
Danny’s Royal ancestry didn’t stop there as his ancestors also include Eleanor of Aquitaine, William the Conqueror and King Louis IX.
Alan Cummings made a startling discovery about his grandfather (Image: BBC)
Alan Cummings
During season seven, Scottish actor Alan Cummings appeared on the show to uncover the real cause of his grandfather Tom’s suspicious death.
While serving as a police officer in Malaysia, he was shot in the back of his head when a gun that he was cleaning backfired.
After travelling to Asia and meeting with his grandfather’s old service comrade, Alan made the shocking discovery that Tom was in fact playing Russian Roulette.
The 59-year-old held his head in his hands with shock as he heard of how his grandfather was a habitual player.
Judi Dench learnt of her real-life connection to Shakespeare (Image: BBC)
Judi Dench
Legendary actress Judi Dench uncovered her startling connection to Shakespeare after appearing in season 18.
This came as a pleasantly significant surprise as she got her start in the industry after playing at the Old Vic as Ophelia in Hamlet.
As the tale takes place at the Royal Castle in Denmark, the 90-year-old learns that she actually had an ancestor who lived in the real Danish castle.
Judi took delight in the discovery as Shakespeare played a key role in her career.
Kate Winslet learned of her great-great-great grandfather (Image: BBC)
Kate Winslet
The Titanic star Kate Winslet travelled to Sweden to learn more about her maternal ancestry and her great-great-great grandfather Anders Johnson.
She soon discovered that one of his children died young and that in 1832 he and another man were arrested for stealing barrels of potatoes.
Kate learned of her ancestor’s hardship and exclaimed: “Good on you, Anders. I would have stolen the potatoes as well.”
However, his left ended in tragedy as this landed him in prison where he died at 42.
After meeting with another historian, the actress discovered that Anders had stolen other things and was sentenced to be whipped, but died before punishment after contracting Typhus.