Who Do You Think You Are?: Claire Foy (BBC One Thursday 8 March 2023)

Who Do You Think You Are?: Claire Foy airs Thursday 8 March 2023 on BBC One

Most people recognise Claire Foy as the young Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix series The Crown. She looks forward to exploring her own family history because she enjoyed learning about her on-screen characters so much. Claire starts off by paying a visit to her parents. Her grandfather shares the sad tale of his father, Claire’s great-grandfather Charles Stimpson, who was killed while riding his motorbike, after reminiscing about the family’s Irish heritage. The birthplace of Claire’s great-grandfather Charles is listed as the fancy-sounding ‘The Castle’ in Carlisle, so she decides to visit there.

It turns out that her great-great-grandparents, Henry and Maria Stimpson, called these rather grand quarters home while Henry served in the military. Another tragedy in Henry’s life can also be traced back to his time spent in the military; he drowned while training for a cross-country race in his spare time. Claire goes to the river where he drowned and is saddened by the fact that his death also left a widow and her five children without a home or a source of income. The local community’s response to the tragedy, by raising money to help the victims move on with their lives, gives Claire hope.

Claire then looks into her father’s family history. Her father, David, was adopted but eventually found his way back to his biological mom, Joyce. After getting to know Joyce, Claire realises that her boyfriend has no idea who her ancestors are. With the help of a genealogist, Claire traces her father’s side of the family all the way back to John and Eliza Martin, her great-great-great-great-grandparents. Like her mother’s side, John’s family hails from Ireland.

After reading a news article about her three times-great-grandfather John, Claire is taken aback. According to new information, John and his brother William have been accused of being present at a fatal shooting and face the death penalty if found guilty of joint enterprise. They claimed innocence, but witnesses put them there. Their trial made headlines across the country, and with the help of Rose Wallis, a historian, Claire is piecing together what must have been a fascinating legal drama.

When witnesses for the defence, including Claire’s three times great-grandmother Eliza, take the stand, the fate of Claire’s three times great-grandfather John and her four times great-uncle William hangs in the balance in a tense courtroom with the odds stacked against them. Claire learns what happens to them. Claire, at the end of her journey, can’t help but be appreciative of the communities that have come together to help her family in times of need.

Season 20 Episode 2

Series in which celebrities trace their ancestry, discovering secrets and surprises from their past.

Who Do You Think You Are?: Claire Foy airs Thursday 8 March 2023 at 21:00 on BBC One

Featured image credit: BBC One