Diane Morgan, best known for her hilariously deadpan portrayal of Philomena Cunk, trades mockumentaries for genuine historical investigation this Tuesday on Who Do You Think You Are? Airing at 9 PM UK time on BBC One, the episode follows Morgan as she digs into her family’s past, uncovering some surprising and poignant truths along the way.
Her ancestral quest begins with a touching mission: to find relatives of her great-great-aunt Sarah Jane’s fiancé, Albert Dugdale, who died in World War One, and return his memorial penny. But the search takes a few unexpected detours. Morgan discovers her four-times great-grandmother, Isabella Hope, was a force to be reckoned with, successfully suing the fathers of her five—yes, five—illegitimate children.
Further digging reveals a German connection, with her three-times great-grandfather, Charles Fennet, hailing from Mönchengladbach. Morgan travels to Germany, hoping to uncover the how and why of her family’s transcontinental ties.
Who Do You Think You Are? continues to be a potent mix of celebrity and history. This week, Morgan’s comedic timing finds a perfect foil in the often surprising gravity of uncovering her own past. It’s a reminder that even the funniest families have complicated histories to unearth.
“Who Do You Think You Are?” airs Tuesday at 9:00 PM UK time on BBC One.
