Home / Series / Coming Home (UK) / Aired Order /

All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Donny Osmond

    • BBC One

    Donny Osmond traces his ancestors back to Wales. He discovers the extraordinary story of his great-great-grandfather, John Martin, a heroic surgeon who saved the lives of many workers in Merthyr's iron industry. Donny also has the chance to surprise some living members of his family in Wales with the news that he is their cousin.

  • S01E02 Cilla Black

    • BBC One

    Cilla Black discovers that her family owe as much to Wales as they do to Liverpool as she traces the story of her family's history in Wales back through five generations. Cilla reveals a history of illegitimacy, servitude and destitution and also learns that she is not the only Priscilla to be born into her family.

Season 2

  • S02E01 Rolf Harris

    • BBC One

    Rolf Harris shares the extraordinary story of his Welsh heritage with his 10-year-old grandson Marlow as they travel to Wales to restore a portrait painted by Rolf's grandfather, the artist GF Harris.

  • S02E02 Susan Sarandon

    • BBC One

    Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon travels to Wales in search of her ancestors. The Hollywood star has always believed that her family originally came from Wales but will she be able to prove it? Joined by ten members of her family, her search begins in west Wales, where she enlists the help of genealogists and DNA experts.

  • S02E03 Paul Daniels

    • BBC One

    Paul Daniels sets out to discover his Welsh heritage and uncovers dark family secrets as well as the extraordinary story of three generations of his family who kept law in the market town of Carmarthen.

  • S02E04 Patrick Mower

    • BBC One

    Assumed identities, bigamy and murder, not only the stuff of Emmerdale but also of actor Patrick Mower's real life family, as he discovers when he makes an emotional journey back to his roots in Porth, South Wales.

  • S02E05 Petula Clark

    • BBC One

    Singer Petula Clark makes an emotional journey back to Wales to trace the story of her family tree. Evacuated in WW2 to live with her grandparents in the South Wales valleys, Petula Clark began her singing career in the concert halls of Wales. 60 years later she is back to discover her family's story in Wales and re-unite with old friends.

  • S02E06 Janet Street-Porter

    • BBC One

    Journalist and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter travels back to the tiny village of Llanfairfechan in North Wales, where more than 7 generations of her family once lived. She learns that, although humble, she came from a family of hard grafters with a special affinity to Wales. Janet also re-lives some of her childhood memories of holidays in the area, and recalls a difficult relationship with her mother over the years. From ghosts to quarrying, Welsh speaking to secret gangs - this is the story of Janet Street-Porter and her Welsh ancestry.

  • S02E07 Pam Ferris

    • BBC One

    Ever since appearing as Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, actress Pam Ferris has been a household name. At the age of 13 she emigrated from Wales to New Zealand and for the first time in over 40 years Pam makes an emotional return visit to her home town of Aberkenfig in South Wales. The journey includes some extraordinary revelations and family reunion.

Season 3

  • S03E01 Michael York

    • BBC One

    Celebrities of Welsh origin trace their family history. Actor Michael York, best known for playing quintessential Englishmen, makes an emotional journey to Wales to learn more about his Welsh forefathers. Starting in his father's home town of Llandovery in west Wales, Michael's journey brings him closer to his late father as he uncovers the untold family story of his wartime love and heroism.

  • S03E02 Christopher Timothy

    • BBC One

    Best known for playing Yorkshire vet James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small, actor Christopher Timothy makes an emotional journey back to his childhood home of North Wales to discover the truth about his Welsh ancestors. Starting in his family's home town of Bala, he uncovers a story of wealthy and privileged ancestors, whose secrets stretch back over 300 years.

  • S03E03 Olivia Newton John

    • BBC One

    International singer Olivia Newton John makes an emotional journey to Wales to discover the extraordinary story of her Welsh ancestry, beginning in her father's home town of Cardiff.

  • S03E04 Michael Heseltine

    • BBC One

    Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine takes an emotional journey back to his childhood home of Swansea to uncover the story of his Welsh ancestors. Along the way, he uncovers a shocking family story of harrowing poverty and disease.

Season 4

  • S04E01 Michelle Collins

    • BBC One

    Series in which celebrities trace their Welsh ancestry. In an emotional journey, actress Michelle Collins travels to Wales to uncover the heart-breaking story of her grandfather's tragic life as a professional boxer. However, nothing prepares Michelle for the shocking family secrets she discovers.

  • S04E02 Gabby Logan

    • November 23, 2009
    • BBC One

    TV presenter Gabby Logan and her father, former Wales manager Terry Yorath, learn the heart-breaking story of the Yorath family in 19th century Cardiff. Gabby and Terry also discover their family's heroic past in the First and Second World Wars.

  • S04E03 John Prescott

    • BBC One

    Former deputy prime minister John Prescott discovers a shocking secret behind his family story in Wales. Accompanied by his wife Pauline, nothing has prepared John for this highly emotional journey which begins in his mother's home town in North Wales.

  • S04E04 Samantha Bond

    • BBC One

    007 movie star Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny) makes an emotional journey to South Wales and uncovers her family's tragic connection with one of Britain's biggest coal mining accidents in which 295 miners lost their lives.

  • S04E05 Terry Jones

    • BBC One

    Monty Python star Terry Jones makes an emotional journey back to his home town of Colwyn Bay in North Wales and uncovers his family's connection with a chilling Victorian murder.

Season 5

  • S05E01 Michael Sheen

    • BBC One

    Film actor Michael Sheen makes an emotional journey to uncover his Welsh ancestry where he discovers his family's bigamous past, learns the story of his lion taming great-grandmother and uncovers a moving family secret.

  • S05E02 Sian Williams

    • BBC One

    BBC Breakfast news presenter Sian Williams takes an emotional journey to uncover her Welsh ancestry. She learns of her family's lost millions, their role in one of Welsh history's biggest stories and is reduced to tears on discovering a moving family secret.

  • S05E03 Michael Ball

    • BBC One

    Singer Michael Ball makes an emotional journey to uncover his Welsh ancestry. He discovers the story of a chapel minister who fell spectacularly from grace and the double family tragedy that drove the 'Ball' family from Wales more than a century ago.

  • S05E04 Ruth Madoc

    • BBC One

    In Coming Home, Ruth Madoc makes an emotional journey to uncover her Welsh ancestry but nothing has prepared her for the news that she's related to one of the biggest names in Welsh history.

  • S05E05 Sarah Greene

    • BBC One

    Former Blue Peter presenter Sarah Greene makes an emotional journey to uncover her Welsh ancestry and discovers her hidden family tree and the story of a grisly family murder.

Season 6

  • S06E01 Neil Kinnock

    • BBC One

    Neil Kinnock makes an extraordinary and emotional journey to trace his Welsh ancestry and uncovers a series of shocking family secrets he knew nothing about.

  • S06E02 Trevor Eve

    • BBC One

    Actor Trevor Eve makes an emotional journey to Wales to trace his ancestry, where he uncovers a moving family secret kept hidden from him for over 50 years.

  • S06E03 Alison Steadman

    • BBC One

    Gavin and Stacey star Alison Steadman makes an emotional journey to Wales to trace her ancestry and uncovers a story that challenges everything she knew about her family in Wales.

  • S06E04 Charles Dale

    • BBC One

    Casualty star Charles Dale makes an emotional journey to Tenby to trace his ancestry, and sets out to uncover the real story of his grandfather and his role in WWII.

Season 7

  • S07E01 Gethin Jones

    • November 23, 2012
    • BBC One

    Former Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones makes an emotional journey to Wales to trace his family tree

  • S07E02 Fiona Philips

    • November 30, 2012
    • BBC One

    Television presenter Fiona Phillips makes a very personal journey to Wales to trace her family tree

  • S07E03 Katherine Jenkins

    • December 7, 2012
    • BBC One

    Singer Katherine Jenkins makes a highly moving journey through Wales to trace her family tree

  • S07E04 Robert Glenister

    • December 14, 2012
    • BBC One

    Spooks and Hustle actor Robert Glenister makes an emotional journey to Wales to trace his family tree

Season 8

  • S08E01 John Rhys-Davies

    • November 29, 2013
    • BBC One

    Veteran Hollywood actor John Rhys-Davies, star of over 100 movies from Lord of the Rings to Indiana Jones makes an emotional journey to his childhood home of Ammanford in South Wales in search of his Welsh ancestry. He's determined to uncover the story of his grandfather William's life, discovering a dramatic story of bravery and sacrifice in the coal mines of Carmarthenshire.

  • S08E02 Tanni Grey-Thompson

    • December 6, 2013
    • BBC One

    Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson makes a highly emotional journey in search of her Welsh ancestry. She is moved by the discovery that she wasn't the first in her family to be honoured in Buckingham Palace - a story that leads her to uncover a tale of extraordinary heroism in her family.

  • S08E03 Shakin' Stevens

    • December 13, 2013
    • BBC One

    Rock 'n' roll singer Shakin' Stevens makes an emotional journey in search of his Welsh ancestry. Shaky is the youngest of thirteen children, and remarkably, his father served in the First World War. But it's the fate of his grandmother, Charlotte, and his uncle that moves him to tears as he finds out about the lasting effect the war had on his family.

  • S08E04 John Humphrys

    • December 16, 2013
    • BBC One

    BBC journalist and Mastermind host John Humphrys makes a poignant journey to his home town of Cardiff in search of his Welsh ancestry. Joined by his brother Graham, John learns of the shipwreck that changed the course of his family history and the moving story of his great grandmother's childhood in an orphanage.

Season 9

  • S09E01 David Emanuel

    • BBC One

    Royal fashion designer David Emanuel makes an emotional journey in search of his Welsh family ancestry, but can he prove that his grandfather really knew the famous Lawrence of Arabia?

  • S09E02 Ian Puleston Davies

    • BBC One

    Coronation Street star Ian Puleston-Davies makes an emotional journey in search of his Welsh family ancestry and discovers the price paid by his family in the American Civil War.

  • S09E03 Alex Jones

    • BBC One

    The One Show presenter traces her Welsh family ancestry and uncovers the emotional story of a brave horse who touched the lives of three generations of her family.

  • S09E04 Sian Lloyd

    • BBC One

    The weather forecaster uncovers her Welsh family ancestry and the shocking story of her great-grandfather's trial for murder.

Season 10

  • S10E01 Sian Phillips

    • November 27, 2015
    • BBC One

    Legendary stage and film actress Siân Phillips makes an emotional journey in search of her early Welsh ancestors and relives a moving performance from her childhood.

  • S10E02 Ben Miller

    • December 4, 2015
    • BBC One

    Comedian and actor Ben Miller makes a long-cherished personal journey in search of his Welsh ancestors, discovering a tale of heroism in WWI and a surprising family link to the White House.

  • S10E03 Jeremy Bowen

    • December 11, 2015
    • BBC One

    Jeremy Bowen - the veteran BBC Middle East editor - makes an emotional journey in search of his Welsh ancestry, where he learns of his great-great grandfather's early life as a child labourer and follows in the footsteps of his father, who reported on one of Wales's worst peacetime disasters.

  • S10E04 Iwan Thomas

    • December 18, 2015
    • BBC One

Season 11

  • S11E01 Ioan Gruffudd

    • December 21, 2016
    • BBC One

    Hollywood movie star Ioan Gruffudd makes an emotional journey to Wales in search of his family ancestry, where he discovers how an ancient medieval tomb can help unlock the secrets of his family's royal past.

Additional Specials