In this episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, presenter, actor, and comedian Paddy McGuinness sets out to uncover his family history, beyond what little he knows about his grandparents. With the surname McGuinness, he suspects Irish roots, but the specifics remain a mystery.
Paddy, born and raised in Bolton, lost both his parents and begins his quest by meeting his mother’s brother, Uncle Tony. Tony shares that their family didn’t discuss their past, and he knows very little about Paddy’s grandfather, James Leonard, beyond his residence in Bolton.
Seeking answers, Paddy meets genealogist and historian Michala Hulme in Bolton. Here, he learns the names of his great-grandparents, Patrick and Annie Leonard, and discovers that his grandfather, James, had a challenging childhood, marked by domestic abuse and a stint in a Cottage Home. Paddy is relieved to find that James later found stability as a miner and built a life for himself.
Intrigued, Paddy visits the site of the former De Havilland Aeroplane Works on Bolton’s outskirts, where his grandfather worked during World War II. Local expert Mick Crossley explains the strategic importance of ‘shadow factories’ like this one, set up outside of London to reduce the risk of bombing raids. Paddy uncovers his grandfather’s crucial role in the war effort, manufacturing and repairing propellers for the RAF.
Shifting focus to his father’s side, Paddy hopes to find the anticipated Irish connection in the McGuinness lineage. Starting anew, he meets historian Charlotte Wildman in Macclesfield and learns that his paternal grandfather was named William McGuinness. Records indicate that William was born in Bolton and served in the army, seeing action in the Boer War in South Africa.
Paddy’s curiosity leads him to the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, where he meets military historian Peter Donaldson. Here, Paddy looks into the harrowing experiences of his grandfather during the Boer War, poring over service records and even holding his grandfather’s medal.
However, the Irish connection remains elusive, prompting Paddy to dig deeper. With the help of genealogist Laura Berry, he discovers that his great-grandmother, Bridget McGuinness, had no father listed on her birth certificate. Further investigation reveals that Bridget’s mother, Paddy’s great-great-grandmother, was a weaver in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, and that Paddy’s family was part of a wave of Irish immigrants who moved to the northwest of England during the decline of the linen trade in the 1830s.
Who Do You Think You Are?: Paddy McGuinness airs on BBC One on Thursday, 22 August 2024.
