6:02PM, Jul 14, 2009
The new series of the geneology show Who Do You Think You Are begins with Big Brother host Davina McCall.
It's a heart-felt journey but she discovers that her forefathers made quite a mark on the world.
If you're a fan of this show, you'll know the format, celebrity goes in search of their past, they discover something revelatory, have a little cry, and then find a sense of pride in their heritage.
It's no different for Davina. She had a troubled upbringing by her French mother Florence Kock and eventually became estranged from her because of her alcoholism. Florence died last year aged 62 and the TV presenter told the Daily Mirror her mother 'probably shouldn't have had kids.'
She continues: "When you are the child of a divorced parent you are kind of split in two. I didn't just split in two, I had two countries.
"There was warm, lovely secure England and then there was my mum. My mother was French and was an alcoholic.
"She was unbelievably exciting to be around - if you are not her child. My mother died last year and we were sort of estranged .
"It was just very sad. She probably shouldn't have had kids because she was a big kid herself."
In the show, Davina goes in search of her French side that she didn't get to know because she lost touch with that side of the family.
She discovers that her great-grandfather Celestin Hennion was a big wig in the French police force, and on her English side there's a chance that one of her relatives may have been the illegitimate son of George IV.
As ever it's interesting stuff (if a bit self-indulgent) and in this third series we'll be finding out about Chris Moyles, David Mitchell, Martin Freeman, Kim Cattrall and Kate Humble.
Find out when Who Do You Think You Are? is showing on TV.
