Latest news with #WhoDoYouThinkYouAre?
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
How Claire Foy went from demonic horror film star to global TV legend
Tonight, Who Do You Think You Are? revisits one of its best loved episodes — the story of Claire Foy's ancestors. Best known to millions as the young Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, Foy, 41, takes a break from portraying history to uncover her own. In the episode, she traces both maternal and paternal lines, uncovering tales of loss, wartime sacrifice, and courtroom drama. But long before the crown, before BAFTAs and Emmys, and even before Wolf Hall or The Girl in the Spider's Web, Claire Foy's big screen debut came in an unexpected project. She first made her small screen debut in the pilot episode of the supernatural comedy series Being Human in 2008. She also played the title role in the BBC One miniseries Little Dorrit that same year. Foy's first major film role was in 2011's Season of the Witch, opposite Nicolas Cage. The film wasn't a critical darling, but Foy was immediately memorable in a way that foreshadowed her impressive career to come. Then, it wasn't long before more substantial roles followed. On British television, Foy began to establish herself as a serious dramatic actor, most notably in Upstairs Downstairs and then in Peter Morgan's The Promise. But it was her turn as the ill-fated Queen Anne Boleyn in the BBC's Wolf Hall (2015) that made critics really sit up and take notice. That same year, Foy was cast as the young Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix's lavish royal epic The Crown. Her performance was nothing short of transformative and she quickly became a household name in the UK. She played a monarch who was very familiar to audiences, but managed tocapture her as a young woman, wife, and reluctant ruler, bringing unexpected vulnerability and steel to the role. At the time, she told the BBC of playing the role: 'I think that she was an incredible monarch. She united people and she was a massive symbol of continuity and dignity and grace.' She added: 'My main feeling is just thinking about her as a mother and a grandmother and a great-grandmother, really, and I'm very honoured to have been a teeny tiny, small part of her story.' Across two seasons, she navigated post-war Britain, familial betrayals, and political upheaval, earning widespread acclaim and a sweep of major awards, including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an Emmy. Foy's performance laid the foundation for The Crown's ongoing success, and arguably redefined how audiences engage with depictions of modern royalty. Even after handing the role to Olivia Colman, Foy returned briefly in later seasons, which was a testament to how iconic her version of the Queen had become. Post-Crown, Foy refused to be boxed in. More Trending She surprised many by taking on the role of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl in the Spider's Web in 2018. It was a bold, unapologetic pivot that helped her from being stuck in people's minds as just The Queen. She's since returned to stage and screen with performances that continue to challenge expectations, from First Man (opposite Ryan Gosling) to the intimate and devastating Women Talking, a role that reconnected her with ensemble storytelling and earned praise for its understated emotional weight. View More » Through it all, Foy has remained a resolutely private, quietly powerful figure in British acting. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Diane Morgan makes thinly-veiled dig at BBC producers in new show
Diane Morgan will explore her father's side of the family following his death in Who Do You Think You Are? Diane Morgan took a subtle swipe at the producers of Who Do You Think You Are? in her appearance on the BBC show. In tonight's episode (Tuesday, June 10), the 49-year-old will explore her father's lineage following his passing six years ago. The actress and comedian certainly shows off her comedic flair while discussing her involvement in the programme, even referencing some of her own work that has humorously critiqued the series. Speaking to the camera from a brown leather settee, Diane jokes: "This is what I can't understand about any of those shows, like this one, where people go on a journey, you know, you'd think people would stop using those tropes. Even the tiny little things like walking past the camera..." This is then followed by several shots of Diane doing the same thing. Poking fun at the show, she carries on: "I wonder how much wondering aimlessly I'll be doing in this..." Once more from the sofa, Diane elaborates: "So I wrote this comedy called Mandy, about this woman who can't hold a job down, in one episode she goes on Who Are You, Do You Think?... Loosely based on Who Do You Think You Are." Diane breaks into laughter before a scene from the programme appears, featuring her character Mandy in a hot tub with Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden. She concludes: "But I never thought in a million years, I thought you'd ask me to be on it." The video wraps up with Diane trying to coax her stubborn dog out for a stroll, saying: "Come on Bob. Bob, we're going to go to the park! You love the park!," but her furry friend wasn't budging. Diane laughs off the situation with, "I knew he'd steal this. Come on Bob!" yet Bob remains unmoved. "Bob. Come on Bob." Later she remarks: "He's just very headstrong..." as Bob continues to play up. In a twist of family history during the show, Diane learns surprising secrets from her past in her birthplace Farnworth, reports the Express. She had been under the impression that her dad's lineage was Northern through and through, only to unearth tales of 'German Charlie' and a Scots link via her great-great-grandmother, shaking up her family tree. Driven by curiosity, Diane delves into her great-great-aunt Sarah Jane's life, known to all as Jinny, especially intrigued by a memorial plaque to Jinny's betrothed, Albert Dugdale, a casualty of WWI. The Afterlife actress discovers a poignant connection - the street where Jinny and Albert lived their love story lies just stones throw away from her own childhood home.
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Dumfries set to feature in Diane Morgan episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
Tonight's episode of the BBC's popular ancestry show will see the Philomena Cunk star visit Dumfries. Dumfries is set to feature on tonight's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? The latest episode of the BBC's popular ancestry show will see actor and comedian Diane Morgan research her family tree. And as well as taking her to Wales and Bolton, Diane's search will also bring her to Dumfries. Diane – known for her portrayal of spoof historian Philomena Cunk as well as appearances in Motherland and After Life – is her aware her two-times great-grandmother Isabella Robson came from Dumfries. She meets genealogist Emma Maxwell in the library to investigate this part of her ancestry further. Emma is able to show Diane some court documents which shed light on Emma's story. Her trip also involves a meeting with local photographer Graeme Robertson. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. The filming took place in Dumfries in the spring of 2024, with filming locations including Dumfries Museum and St Michael's Churchyard – the final resting place of Robert Burns. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Who Do You Think You Are? will be shown on BBC One at 8pm tonight. It will then be available on iPlayer
Sunday Post
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Paul Hollywood on his love of flying and how he landed TV career
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Great British Bake Off's Paul Hollywood has a dream, and it's not pie in the sky. The man with a need for speed (he's a keen biker) has a vision of flying a helicopter to the land of his forebears – Poolewe in the north-west Highlands. 'It would be quicker and easier than by road,' he grins. The Wirral-born baker, who has judged on the show for 15 years, initially with Mary Berry for the BBC before controversially moving to Channel 4 in 2017 to judge with Prue Leith, always knew there was Scots blood in his veins. But it wasn't until he took part in the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? that he realised how deep it ran. 'I'm more Celt than I am English,' the 59-year-old tells P.S. from his home in rural Kent. Paul, whose great-grandfather Kenneth Mackenzie was in the Glasgow police, says: 'They always ask you before they start the genealogy programme: 'Where do you feel more comfortable?' 'I said in a scenic, remote location with mountains and streams. At the end of the filming, I was sitting on a rock just outside Poolewe, and they told me to look around and then they played back what I'd said at the beginning. 'Oh my God,' I said, 'this is it…'' © Supplied by Bloomsbury publisher He adds with more than a hint of pride: 'I am a Mackenzie of Gairloch and Poolewe. My family are Highlanders who went down to Glasgow in the 1800s.' In this year's New Year's Bake Off he sported a kilt made for him by Black Isle designer Siobhan Mackenzie. 'I wore it for the Hogmanay Bake Off special and Prue wore her Leith colours.' Paul has toured in Scotland, worked at the BBC's Glasgow studios, and spent a week filming in Gairloch and Poolewe, and he is planning a return, initially as a road trip. He embarked on a helicopter pilot course in 2023. 'It was a dream I had as a kid. I used to have all these toy helicopters,' he reveals. 'Then, years ago, I had a trial lesson for a birthday present. There are nine exams. I have done them all and I have my radio licence. 'I still have to do a final practical test. I am trying to fit it in around work and I can't fly when I'm filming. 'It feels like I have accomplished something for myself. It has been good to sit down and study for what feels like the first time in my life. 'I always struggled in school, I lacked the concentration. I didn't try, nothing clicked. If they had baking classes, I would have probably done all right. Clearly, I can concentrate when I'm interested in something.' Paul – who in April hit headlines when he went to the aid of a pilot who crashed his small plane into a field in Kent – admits he would never have imagined having a TV career or that it would lead to authorship and even bankroll his dream of flying helicopters. The Wallasey lad started out following in his graphic designer mum Gillian's footsteps but gave up art college to join his dad John in his bakery business, before becoming head baker at top hotels in the UK and Cyprus. He has just launched his sixth recipe book, Celebrate, which is in part inspired by a childhood centred around the church at which his grandfather was a lay preacher and his grandmother organised coffee mornings. Reliving those days, he says: 'Most times there was always a birthday or people going back to the church for a party and there were a lot of traybakes and treats, which is where a lot of the ideas for the book came from.' An eclectic mix of foolproof recipes for showstopping bakes marking life's special moments, it is packed with easy traybakes, layer cakes, quiches, tarts, breads, pastries, desserts and cookies. Dad-of-one Paul married his second wife, Melissa, in 2023 in his beloved Cyprus, where he lived for six years and made his first foray into TV. He says: '(Food writer) Thane Prince was making a programme, Food From the Village, and asked me to be part of it. 'He said I was quite natural on television and I should do some more. He gave me a card and said: 'Contact this agent when you're back in the UK,' so I did.' © Bloomsbury Publishing/PA It led to a TV series with James Martin in 2000 and, among others, appearances on This Morning and the Gloria Hunniford Show. A few years later he got the call for the Great British Bake Off. Fame came fast. 'In the first couple of years of Bake Off, I could walk down the road without too much of an issue. Now it's different,' he says. 'You have to adjust and get used to that. What you gain financially is fantastic, but what you lose is quite substantial – your anonymity, your privacy – but you don't know that at the beginning.' With millions of viewers and its popularity in the States rocketing, he laughs: 'People come up and talk to you in the strangest places. I was using the loo in Switzerland and a Brazilian bloke came in and recognised me straight away. He asked if I would speak to his wife. I said I would, but could I just finish what I was doing.' Despite his serious Bake Off persona, he has a sense of humour, as his part in the Compare the Meerkat TV ads shows. 'People who know me know I don't take myself seriously. The role I have in Bake Off is a role. Real life is very different. 'I am constantly taking the mickey out of myself. That advert tickled me so I said I'd do it. 'People were phoning me saying: 'Why don't you get off my television,'' he grins. 'Being on the TV wasn't a job that you looked at when I was a kid. Even my mum said that out of all of my brothers I'd be the last one to do that. I was quite quiet and shy. It just found me.' © Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4/PA Wire Any regrets? 'I have no regrets TV-wise. I feel I have done all the things I've set out to do. I'm contented with where I am and with what I am doing but it has taken me a long time to get that point. I live in the middle of nowhere and keep myself to myself. 'I'm doing what I did when I was young. 'I like a quiet life, reading old spy novels and flying stories, cycling, sitting in the sunshine and listening to good music. I'm a big fan of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. I'm a bit of a hippy really.' Paul's five-star work experience © PA Paul Hollywood worked as head baker at some of Britain's most exclusive hotels, including Cliveden, the Chester Grosvenor and The Dorchester, as well as the five star Annabelle in Cyprus, before getting his start in UK TV. In 1999 he co-hosted shows with James Martin for the Carlton Food Network and CFN Taste. Now heading into his 17th year with The Great British Bake Off, and with an MBE for baking and broadcasting, he remembers his salad days, juggling hotel work with TV. Recalling his meeting with his now pal John Torode in Cyprus, he says: 'He knew a chef I worked with in the hotel. Years later I came back to the UK and did a programme with James Martin, and John was one of the guests. He walked in and went, 'Oh my God, I saw your name but thought it can't be that guy from Cyprus. Well done mate'. 'I met Jamie Oliver when he was doing Naked Chef. He used to say, 'just do it mate, enjoy it'. But I was still working in hotels and TV wasn't my main job. It was a bit of icing on the side of the cake.' Now it's the main deal, who would Paul have bake his showstopper? 'Probably Raymond Blanc, he is a legend, a god. His food, and the way he approaches his food, is stunning… or Benoit (Blin),' he says, blue eyes sparkling. Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round by Paul Hollywood is published by Bloomsbury
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I found out I'm related to Will Young after watching his TV show'
The Pop Idol winner discovered on this week's episode of BBC1's Who Do You Think You Are? that he is related to King Edward I and William the Conquerer - so Mirror man Matt decided to dig into his ancestors too As if Will Young didn't already have reason to be smug, the Pop Idol and two-time Brit Award winner now has something else he can boast about - he's related to royalty. Specifically, King Edward I, his 20-times great-grandfather. Oh, and William the Conquerer too. The singer found out about his kingly lineage filming this week's episode of BBC1 's Who Do You Think You Are? And he's not the only celebrity who, besides being blessed with success, can also add royal blood to their claims to fame. Josh Widdecombe is another, having learned he's also directly descended from Edward I. Before him there was Danny Dyer, who discovered his ancestors include King Edward III, William the Conquerer and French king Louis IX. Then there's Matthew Pinsent – four-time Olympic gold medallist and, it turns out, also related to Edward I, William the Conqueror and one of Henry VIII's wives. What is it about being a celebrity, I wondered, that makes you more likely to have royal relatives? Knowing Will was going to be the latest to fill me with jealousy, I set out to find out if mere mortals like me had any remotely interesting ancestors. In my case, the chances of even finding anyone slightly aristocratic in my family tree seemed pretty bleak. Will was already born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a boarding school boy whose dad was a company director and whose grandad was an RAF flight lieutenant. Most of the relatives I knew about, on the other hand, were proud yet poor Nottinghamshire coal miners and their wives. Still, I set up an account on FindMyPast and added the names of the relatives I knew about over the last 150 years. As the site suggested potential matches based on birth, marriage, baptism and census records, I gradually worked my way back around 12 generations to the mid-1600s. Alas, what I discovered only confirmed my suspicions. My family were paupers, not princes – grafters who toiled for centuries in coal mines, stables, forges and along canals. My great-grandfather, I discovered, was a coal miner loader who had worked his way up to coal hewer - hacking coal from the mine bed by hand, hundreds of metres underground - just like his father and grandfather before him. Earlier still were nailmakers, boatmen, stonemasons and stablemen. Almost all lived and died in Derbyshire, Yorkshire or Lancashire. We were clearly the servants, not the masters. I had more in common with Baldrick than Blackadder. But just as I was about to give up, I stumbled on something unexpected. In the late 1500s, Derbyshire man William Gilbert, my 13th great-grandfather, married Anne Clere - and into a well-known family. The Cleres, it turned out, were an ancient family from Norfolk whose patriarch, Sir Robert Clere, was the High Sheriff of Norfolk and known for his great wealth. Anne's father, Sir Edward Clere, was an MP, but apparently not a very articulate one when speaking in the House of Commons. One diarist wrote how he made '"a staggering [stumbling] speech… I could not understand what reason he made.' He was knighted in 1578 after having Queen Elizabeth I stay over at his home in Thetford, Norfolk, when he entertained her with a theatrical performance and jousting. Fascinated that my family was at least good friends with royalty, I kept digging. Edward's father was Sir John Clere, an MP and naval commander who drowned in August 1557 when his fleet tried to conquer the Orkney Islands, but was beaten back to sea by 3,000 angry islanders. But it was her mother, Alice Boleyn, my 14th great-grandmother, whose name jumped out at me. Sure enough, as I followed the tree, her niece was none other than Anne Boleyn, Queen of England until she was beheaded in 1533 by Henry VIII - and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. I was astounded - that makes me Elizabeth I's first cousin, 16 times removed. On the other side of the Clere family, however, things were taking a more sinister - but no less fascinating - turn. Sir John Clere's wife, Anne Tyrell, also had royal connections, it turned out, but ones that probably changed the line of succession forever. On her father's side, her grandfather was Sir James Tyrell, a trusted servant of Richard III, who allegedly confessed to the murders of the Princes in the Tower under Richard's orders. James is also portrayed in Shakespeare's Richard III. I was astounded - I studied the play at school and had no idea I was reading about my 17th great-grandfather. Treason and treachery, it seems, ran in the family. His father William was beheaded on Tower Hill in 1462 for plotting against King Edward IV. William's father, Sir John Tyrell of Heron, was High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire and knight of Essex, and three times Speaker of the House of Commons. That my 19th great-grandfather basically once ruled Essex is something I won't be letting people forget in Stansted, where I now live. But it was also through Anne Tyrell's mother's side that I found something even more astonishing. As I followed her line, the names began to get more and more aristocratic, through the Willoughbys, De Welles, Greystokes and Longsprees, until I found…. My 26th great-grandfather, King Henry II. His father was Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou and his grandfather, King Henry I. And Henry's father? No other than William the Conquerer - my 29th great-grandfather. And perhaps even more bizarrely, that would make Will Young my 9th cousin, 9 times removed. I'll be inviting him round for tea next week. Genealogists will tell me to calm down - apparently there are about five million people who are descended from William the Conquerer. Establishing myself as the true heir to the British throne could certainly be tricky. But just being as special as Will, Danny Dyer and Matthew Pinsent is enough for me. And not bad for the son of Nottinghamshire nailmakers, stablemen and coal miners. How to trace your family tree on Findmypast: Register for a free Findmypast account and create your tree. Add your own information, then details about your parents, grandparents and other relatives that you know. You don't need every detail such as date or place of birth, but the more you have the better. Findmypast then searches its records and provides hints about your ancestors, helping you expand your tree. To access the records you'll need to pay a subscription. Most of the records go back to the 1700s, but family trees created by other people can help you trace back even further. Use the internet to search some of the key names - you might find more clues and other historical connections.
