February 2026 issue of Who Do You Think You Are? magazine on sale

The latest edition of Who Do You Think You Are? magazine (Feb 2026) is now on sale. In the magazine I have a three-page article about Scottish Wills, which may be of interest.

Also this issue, Debbie Kennett looks at Ancestry's Pro-Tools, Claire Vaughan looks at the DNAngels team, and Jo Thompson explores the Second World War NAAFI women. In addition Nicola Vaughan looks at Irish teachers, Jonathan Scott looks at free websites for research, and Nick Peers looks at RootsMagic's use of AI. 

Further details on the magazine will be available shortly at https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/magazine/.

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

December 2025 edition of Who Do You Think You Are? magazine

I've just received a copy of the December 2025 edition of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, for which I have written the cover story on family tree software, both offline and online, pointing out the pros and cons of both.

In addition there'a a look at the story of a Glaswegian actress who made her name in Hollywood, the role animals played in the Second World War, how to research ancestors transported to Australia, how to find school records available online, and considerably more. 

The magazine should be available shortly in the shops, and to order online from https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Emma Maxwell on WDYTYA

Fans of Emma and Graham Maxwell, the dynamic duo behind Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com), will be interested to know that Emma appeared on this week's Who Do You Think You Are? episode, which followed the ancestry of comedian Diane Morgan. In the programme Emma demonstrated the use of Scottish sheriff court records.

You can find the programme on the BBC iPlayer (UK and Ireland only). 

 If based overseas, a clip is available at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19SQkGriZW/.

Chris 

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Who Do You Think You Are? returns Thursday August 15th

The new series of Who Do You Think You Are? kicks off on Thursday August 15th 2024, with an episode focussed on actor Vicky McClure (from Line of Duty).

The entire plot of what she gets up to and finds out is listed at the BBC website at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021zt9 - but I'll save sharing it here, in case you don't want spoilers!

This will be the 21st series of the show, again produced by Wall to Wall Media. Additional episodes will feature comedian Paddy McGuinness, singer Olly Murs, singer Mel C, Eastender actor Rose Ayling-Ellis, Gemma Collins, and former Olympic athlete Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Who Do You Think You Are? magazine Jan 2024

I've just received the latest Who Do You Think You Are? magazine edition, issue 213, January 2024, which includes an "Around Britain" series article by yours truly on Northern Ireland research and PRONI, the country's national archive (don't worry, I've addressed the geographical elephant in the room in the opening paragraph!).

Another interesting article, for Scots research, is that by Rosemary Collins, who talks to Loraine Duncan and Rhona Barr about their Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery project at https://www.fohpc.com, focussed on the stories of those who were buried in the graveyard at Hartwood Hospital (Lanark District Asylum) near Shotts in Lanarkshire.

Also in the magazine are articles on 50 website to watch next year, finding trade union membership records, and Metropolitan Police records.  

For more on the latest edition, visit https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/magazine (currently still advertising the Christmas edition at the time of writing, but will be updated soon!)

Chris  

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Andrew Lloyd Webber kicks off season 20 of WDYTYA on June 1st

The new series of Who Do You Think You Are? will commence its run on BBC1 at 9pm on Thursday, June 1st 2023, with the first episode featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

From the BBC's WDYTYA site (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mgp3):

Andrew Lloyd Webber is a global superstar of musical theatre, still writing and producing blockbuster shows. He has also combined his nose for business with his love of architecture by renovating the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to its original condition. Andrew knows he comes from a musical family, including virtuoso cellist brother, Julian – but he’d love to find out where his showbiz genes and his love of musical theatre come from.

A quick investigation of his own archive reveals a much posher lineage than expected. By following his mother’s line, Andrew soon uncovers his four-times great Uncle Peregrine, who played a key role under Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Peregrine in turn leads Andrew to his 12-times great-grandmother Katherine Willoughby, a Tudor duchess and powerful player in Henry VIII’s court who was later persecuted and threatened with death for her religious beliefs. As her dramatic life unfolds, Andrew is not only astonished by her determination and resilience but delighted to learn of her association with some of Britain’s most architecturally important stately homes.

Next, Andrew investigates his father’s side – a much humbler line, with both his grandfather and great-grandfather working as plumbers. With the help of his cousin Anne, he discovers his two-times great-grandfather Henry Simmonds was a missionary who dedicated his life to helping the poor and needy. Described as a ‘real working-class hero’, Andrew is thrilled to find out that Henry was the author of the first architectural guide to Battersea.

Andrew still wants to uncover any musical links, and with the help of genealogist Laura Berry, he finally traces more musicians in the family, including his five-times great-grandfather Henry who has the curious surname Magito – which Andrew soon learns is Dutch. What follows next is a series of extraordinary resonances with Andrew’s own life - an extended family of Magitos, who were not only accomplished musicians, but also showmen and producers making their living by staging the 18th-century equivalent of musical theatre.

But the coincidences don’t stop there. More investigation proves his five-times grandfather Henry Magito had a brother, Alexis Magito, who was also a cellist. A trip to Leiden uncovers a long-lost sonata written by Alexis that reveals he was an accomplished composer and player for the cello. Andrew can’t wait to return to London to meet with his younger brother Julian and share the extraordinary coincidences of their shared ancestry.

(NB: I will update this post if the BBC1 Scotland schedule differs from the English listing)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? Series 20 starts in June

From the BBC: 

Who Do You Think You Are? returns to BBC One this June with a nine-part star-studded line-up 

The newest season of two-time BAFTA award-winning genealogy show, produced by Wall to Wall Media, will feature Claire Foy, Emily Atack, Bear Grylls, Chris Ramsey, Kevin Clifton, Dev Griffin, Chris & Xand van Tulleken and Lesley Manville 

From early June Who Do You Think You Are? will return to BBC One, following nine celebrities on extremely personal journeys as they each delve into unknown family ancestry and unearth startling facts and truths about their heritage that they wouldn’t have begun to guess otherwise. 

 With familial discoveries ranging from clog-wearing rope dancers and Scottish royalty to murder trials and tragic accidents, the celebrities’ journeys take them across the UK as well as to Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada, Jamaica and Australia in pursuit of the truth behind their family stories. 

 This newest series of Who Do You Think You Are? is filled with astonishing revelations for the celebrities who have chosen to bare all in Series 20 of the show. Musical theatre master Andrew Lloyd Webber unearths uncanny parallels between his life and the lives of his ancestors. Actor and comedian Emily Atack discovers that she, Ryan Reynolds and a certain football club have a lot more in common than she might ever have guessed. Award-winning actors Claire Foy and Lesley Manville dive head-first into their family histories only to stumble upon stories worthy of any TV drama. Claire finds out that her family were caught up in a murder trial and Lesley learns how an ancestor fighting for workers’ rights ended up paying a very heavy price. 

Meanwhile Strictly Come Dancing winner and actor Kevin Clifton and broadcaster & DJ Dev Griffin find themselves travelling overseas on the trail of their ancestors. Kevin ends up in one of the most remote places in Canada and Dev travels to Jamaica where he’s surprised by some very personal records about his great grandparents. Comedian, podcaster and TV host Chris Ramsey comes to realise that the saying ‘you make your own luck’ might be one of the most apt phrases applied to his family’s past as he discovers some extraordinary survival stories and an ancestor who won a very unusual lottery. 

Twin doctors and presenters Chris and Xand van Tulleken make their Who Do You Think You Are? journey together, on the trail of their Dutch ancestry, and adventurer Bear Grylls is delighted to end up in the wild, surprisingly through a royal connection. 

The highly anticipated Season 20 of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ will bring shocking truths, tears, and tragedies as well as moving and uplifting stories to viewers at home, as the celebrities uncover affecting moments in their family histories that will impact them in ways they didn’t think possible. 

Simon Young, BBC Head of History, says: “As one of Britain’s most beloved documentary series returns for series 20, the line-up of household names, and the array of astonishing family histories, grow from strength to strength. This series is often imitated but never bettered, and this latest edition demonstrates why.” 

Colette Flight, Executive Producer for Wall to Wall, says: “Who Do You Think You Are? is back with nine much-loved celebrities investigating their ancestry. The series will see them uncover incredible, moving and dramatic stories as their individual family trees reflect and shine a light on all of our shared history.” 

The new series of Who Do You Think You Are? launches on BBC One this June. Produced by Wall to Wall Media, Executive Produced by Colette Flight and series produced by Victoria Bell. The format is distributed by Warner Bros. International Television Production.

(Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/who-do-you-think-you-are-return)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? returns on May 26th

The nineteenth series of Who Do You Think You Are? commences as a limited run on BBC1 from May 26th. 

The series will include the following subjects:

• Sue Perkins
• Richard Osman
• Matt Lucas
• Anna Maxwell Martin
• Ralf Little
  

For further details visit https://www.family-tree.co.uk/news/who-do-you-think-you-are-2022-celebrities-revealed/

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Big thanks to Wall to Wall for series 17 of WDYTYA?

This is just a quick post to express my thanks to the TV production company Wall to Wall for the now finished broadcast run of series 17 of Who Do You Think You Are? 

I watched the final episode of the series last night, featuring Ed Balls, which was a great culmination to the seven episode run which also featured Judi Dench, Pixie Lott, Joe Lycett, Alex Scott, Joe Sugg and Josh Widdicombe. As with most series, there were a range of stories, some more interesting to me than others, but each offered an entertaining hour's diversion once a week, which is all I ever ask of it!

In a previous life I worked in television documentary production for 12 years, and I am well aware of just how difficult it is to make a programme at the best of times - but with the Covid pandemic over the last 18 months, it really is a miracle that we got a series this year at all. At times the Covid restrictions were evident - social distancing between most folk, and lots of scenes with people seated at tables looking at documents - but each programme successfully told the stories that the directors and celebs wished to be told. 

In a year where we needed a distraction, with all sorts of issues regarding the access of archives and libraries etc, it kept the flame burning for the good times yet to come back. And so for that, here's tae ye folks, thanks, and have a great Christmas!

 ("Whisky toast on top of Perito Moreno Glacier" by amymaura is licensed with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.    
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/) 

Roll on Series 18....! (And if you missed Series 17, or many of the earlier series, UK viewers can find them on the BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer)

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? returns on October 12th

The next series of Who Do You Think You Are? will return to BBC1 at 9pm on Tuesday, October 12th.

For further details visit https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/tv-series/who-do-you-think-you-are/.

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Preparing for war: TNA to receive Second World War service records

I've just received a copy of the August 2021 edition of Who Do You Think You Are? magazine (www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com), and there's a huge development covered in two parts by the publication with regards to the military records of the Second World War. The headline news is that the great migration of some 9.7 million service records has commenced from the Ministry of Defence in Glasgow to the National Archives at Kew, England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk), in a process that is estimated will take up to seven years to complete. According to TNA, further details will be announced "in the coming weeks".

You can read more of the development in a letter by Anthony Bevis to the magazine, and in this issue's main news story, which also focusses on the current delays being experienced by those seeking to access post-WW1 service records (which can normally be done for £30) from the MoD.

And if you're interested, there is also a review from yours truly on David Dobson's great new book, Scottish Genealogy: The Basics and Beyond...!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? series 12 in Australia

If you're down under in Australia, the new series of Who Do You Think You Are?, the twelfth in Australia, is due to start on Tuesday 8th June 2021.  You can find more about this series on Alona Tester's post at Gould Genealogy, at https://www.gouldgenealogy.com/2021/05/who-do-you-think-you-are-australia-2021-season-12/.

I've actually carried out research for two episodes of this series, and was almost filmed for the episode with former Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, but I unfortunately had to pull out fairly late on, following the death of my father, with the filming due to take place the night before his funeral. There's a good Scottish connection in this one, but I don't want to give anything away - suffice to say, it's an interesting story! 

The celebs lined up for this run are: Celia Pacquola, Malcolm Turnbull, Denise Drysdale, Jef Fatt, Uncle Jack Charles, Grant Denyer, Chris Bath, and Natalie Bassingthwaighte

Enjoy!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

More about Scotland's kirk session registers

Following the superb announcement on Tuesday that ScotlandsPeople (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) has added the first tranche of historic records from Scotland's kirk sessions (see http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2021/03/brace-yourselves-scotlandspeople-adds.html), I have written a brief guide to what the records are, and what to expect from them, for Who Do You Think You Are? magazine's website. You can freely access the article at https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/religious/kirk-session-records-scotland/.

Don't forget that my free article on the history of the Church of Scotland and the many offshoots that emerged from it can be found at http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/p/kirk-history.html.

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

WDYTYA magazine's Transcription Tuesday event

A reminder that Who Do You Think You Are? magazine (www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com) is hosting its latest Transcription Tuesday event tomorrow (Tues 2nd Feb), a crowdsourcing effort to ask volunteers to help create indexes from records of interest to the genealogical community. 

The following are the projects on offer this year:

• FamilySearch: English parish registers
• Addressing Health: Post Office pension records
• Every Name Counts: concentration camp inmate records
• Voices Through Time: Coram Foundling Hospital records

For further details visit www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/transcription-tuesday-2021.

Chris

My next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, is now available from https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? episodes on BBC iPlayer

Some 50 episodes from Seasons 12-17 of the BBC1 series Who Do You Think You Are? can be viewed freely on the BBC's iPlayer service (www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer), for those resident within the UK.

(With thanks to Antony Marr @ChafontR via Twitter)

Chris

Pre-order my next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

WDYTYA? magazine announces next Transcription Tuesday event

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine (www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com) has announced that its next Transcription Tuesday event will be held on Tuesday February 2nd 2021. The magazine will be partnering with FamilySearch, the Addressing Health project from Kingston University, the Voices Through Time project from Coram, and the Every Name Counts project from Arolsen Archives. 

Further details on the event can be found on the magazine's website at www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/transcription-tuesday-2021-who-do-you-think-you-are-magazine/.

(With thanks to Rosemary Collins)

Chris

Pre-order my next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? Series 17 trailer

The trailer for the new series of Who Do You Think You Are?, this coming Monday 12th October on BBC1.

Chris

My next 5 week Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course starts November 2nd - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? returns October 12th

The next short series of Who Do You Think You Are?, with just four episodes, commences its run on Monday October 12th. 

Here's the blurb on the first episode:

Jodie Whittaker
Who Do You Think You Are?
Series 17
Episode 1 of 5

Doctor Who and Broadchurch actor Jodie Whittaker investigates her family history. On her dad’s side, she looks into a romantic story she has been told about how her beloved grandmother Greta came to be given the middle name Verdun - also the name of a First World War battle fought shortly before Greta was born. The truth Jodie uncovers about Greta’s eldest brother’s sacrifice in that war is far more poignant than the family myth. On her mum’s side, Jodie gets to the bottom of how her great-great-grandfather worked his way up from child labourer in a Yorkshire coal mine to mine owner, and how his sons kept the family’s mines open during the biggest miners’ strikes of the 1920s.

Others to appear in this run are David Walliams, Liz Carr and Ruth Jones - further details, when they emerge, at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007t575.

Should be fun!

UPDATED 2 Oct: Confirmation that this is the same transmission slot across all nations and regions of the UK. (With thanks to WDYTYA Magazine)

Chris

My next 5 week Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course starts November 2nd - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

New look website for WDYTYA? magazine

Who Do You Think You Are? magazine has a new website, with the address remaining the same as the previous site at www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com.

Commenting on the new look, the magazine's editor Sarah Williams stated "We’re delighted to be moving to a new platform that will enable us to add even more content to help family historians across the globe. As well as our usual news stories and tutorials we will be adding some of our popular Q&As and inspirational real life stories. It will also remain the premier destination for anyone interested in the TV series."

A casualty of the new platform is the site's former discussion forum - but a replacement has been launched by readers at Who When Where Genealogy www.whowhenwheregenealogy.org.uk. (Amongst the new topic areas catered for, many posts from the last year of the magazine's forum have been archived, found via the Read This First section).

For more on the story, and to explore the new site, visit www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/who-do-you-think-you-are-magazine-launches-new-look-website/

Chris

My next 5 week Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course starts July 6th - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. My next book, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Who Do You Think You Are? magazine June 2020

The latest edition of Who Do You Think You Are? magazine, June 2020, is now available.

Inside this month's issue

• Records of the poor
• Discover your family's struggles with financial hardship through online research
• Interwar photographs
• National Trust photography expert Catherine Troiano takes her photo-dating guide to the period following the First World War
• Reader story
• Helen Dann explains how a newspaper archive revealed a tale of despair and scandal in Victorian England
• Navy Lists
• The stories of our ancestors who sailed the seas
• My family hero
• Maggie Brookes' father survived the horrors of POW camps during the Second World War

Plus...

• The history of pageants; tracing railway workers; finding Indian family, and much more...

Around Britain - Derbyshire

• The complete guide to tracing your ancestors in this beautiful and historic county

For details on how to obtain your copy, visit www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/issue/june-2020

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course starts June 8th - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. My next book, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is out shortly, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.