When is Who Do You Think You Are? next on TV?

It’s back! And, if you were ever worried that Who Do You Think You Are? might run out of celebrities, the line-up of the 20th series proves otherwise.

First up, it’s the turn of Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of such blockbusters as Jesus Christ Superstar (1971), Evita (1978), Cats (1981), Starlight Express (1984) and The Phantom of the Opera (1986), who hopes to find out “where my love of musical theatre comes from”. He will uncover relations who fit the bill, but first Lloyd Webber explores the stories of some of his mother’s posher ancestors. These include a 4x great uncle who played a key role at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and his 12x great grandmother, a duchess who enjoyed influence at the court of Henry VIII before facing religious persecution.

On his father’s rather humbler side of the family, Lloyd Webber enlists the help of a cousin, Anne, to research the life of his great great grandfather, Henry Simmonds, a missionary who also wrote the first-ever architectural guide to Battersea. But it’s perhaps the story of his 5x great grandfather, Henry Magito, that really captures Lloyd Webber’s imagination. The Magito family were showpeople and producers who worked in the 18th-century equivalent of musical theatre.

The past and present collide, even more so when Lloyd Webber learns that his Magito ancestor had a brother with parallels to his own brother, cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.

The series will run for nine episodes. In the first tranche, look out for actor Claire Foy, who found fame as Elizabeth II in the early series of The Crown (2016–2017), discovering 19th-century forebears caught up in a trial that made headlines. Elsewhere, adventurer Bear Grylls solves the mystery of top-secret documents hidden in his grandfather’s trunk, and former Strictly Come Dancing pro Kevin Clifton investigates a connection to the First Nations of Canada.

What is Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? has been broadcast since 2004 and has reached 19 series. Each episode of the hit BBC One documentary series follows a celebrity as they try to research their family history and uncover the fascinating and moving lives of their ancestors.

When is Who Do You Think You Are? next on TV?

The first episode of Who Do You Think You Are? series 20, starring Andrew Lloyd Webber, will be broadcast on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday 1 June 2023, followed by eight more episodes broadcast weekly.

Who is on the new series of Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? 2023 will star composer Andrew Lloyd Webber; actor Claire Foy; adventurer Bear Grylls; actor Lesley Manville; Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Kevin Clifton; twin brothers and science broadcasters Chris and Xand van Tulleken; actor and comedian Emily Atack; radio presenter Dev Griffin; and comedian Chris Ramsey.

Where can I watch old episodes of Who Do You Think You Are?

Series 14 to 19 of Who Do You Think You Are?, starring celebrities including Richard Osman, Jack and Michael Whitehall and Olivia Colman, are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Series 1-4 and series 11, 13 and 15 of Who Do You Think You Are? are also available on DVD.

Rosemary Collins is the features editor of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine