Make sure you tune into Who Do You Think You Are? tonight at 9pm on BBC1. This week actor Rupert Penry-Jones find out about his past. Rupert’s mother was born in Karachi and Rupert embarks on a journey to discover more about his Indian roots.

Rupert learns about his maternal grandfather, Bill, who was a doctor in India. This discovery inspires Rupert to travel to India where he finds out about his great-great-great-great grandfather Thomas who was part of the Great Indian Rebellion.

Last night, Monty Don became the latest celebrity to get the Who Do You Think You Are? treatment.

Monty Don (copyright jo-h)

The episode focused on two branches of his family tree, his maternal Hodge and paternal Keiller lines.

One of the ancestors focused on was Monty’s great-grandmother, Charlotte Augusta Hodge. The programme revealed that Charlotte was one of nine children born to the Reverend Charles Hodge and his wife, Ann. Charlotte was left behind in England when her parents and four of her elder brothers emigrated to New Zealand in the 1850s.

While taking a look at the large Hodge family in the all-new fully searchable birth records this morning, findmypast.co.uk has discovered that there was actually a tenth child – Charlotte’s twin. The image below shows the record of Charlotte Augusta Hodge’s birth in East Retford, Nottinghamshire in the July / August / September quarter of 1846. Nine lines below Charlotte is an entry for a Harriet Vere Hodge, born in the same district.

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The death index for the same quarter of 1846 reveals that Charlotte’s twin died soon after her birth. Reverend Charles and Ann Hodge’s youngest child was born four years after this tragedy and was also named Harriet, presumably in memory of the child they had lost.

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This fresh information may help Monty understand why his great-great-grandmother, Ann Hodge initially emigrated to New Zealand without her husband and family in 1850. It was speculated last night that this showed a wish to escape from her husband. However, we feel that Ann’s emotional state following the loss of one child and the recent birth of another must have played some considerable part in her actions.

Please do let us know what you thought of last night’s episode and what you think Ann’s motivations may have been for leaving her family in 1850.

Make sure you don’t miss Who Do You Think You Are? tonight at 9pm on BBC1. This week, gardener Monty Don traces his family history and discovers more about the side of his family that’s always been a bit of a mystery.

Among other things, Monty unearths what happened to the fortune his ancestors made in the marmalade business and why his immediate family didn’t see a penny. With family feuds and tragedies, tonight’s episode should be an interesting one!

Last night’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? was a rollercoaster ride for Dervla Kirwan. She found out about her great great uncle Michael Collins, a key player in establishing the Irish Free State, and the political relationship between Michael and his nephew, Finian.

Dervla Kirwan (copyright damo1977)

The programme spent a lot of time focusing on Dervla’s great grandfather, Henry Kahn. Henry was Jewish and married Teresa O’Shea, a Catholic, in what was for the time a very unusual (yet very romantic) union. Henry was sentenced to 12 months in prison for breaking a window, and in his hearing was subjected to anti-semitic comments by a notorious judge, who refused to let Henry make a statement in his defence and condemned him as ‘a specimen of your nation and your race that cause you to be hunted out of every country’.

This incident was so grievous (and a reflection of how Jews were viewed at that time) that it led to a question being asked in the House of Commons and it was even retold in James Joyce’s epic novel Ulysses.

Henry’s prison sentence, which involved months of hard labour, ‘broke’ him and he died aged 50 after suffering a series of strokes. Dervla described her journey into her past as ‘tough’ but said that she would recommend anyone to do the same. It just goes to show that tracing your family history can throw up some unexpected revelations, not all of which might be easy to hear.

Don’t forget to watch tonight’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? at 9pm on BBC1. This week follows Irish actress Dervla Kirwan as she journeys back into her past.

Dervla’s grandfather was in the Irish Free State Army, and her research leads her to make some fascinating discoveries about the IRA and Dublin’s Jewish community.

Tonight’s episode promises to be an interesting watch, so don’t forget to tune in.

This week it was actor Rupert Everett’s turn to trace his family history. The programme focused mainly on Rupert’s grandfather, Cyril Frederick Cunningham Everett.

Rupert Everett (copyright Vicki Neave)

Cyril was born on 12 June 1886 at 20 Porchester Terrace, Hyde Park, to Georgina Teague and Frederick William Cunningham Everett. Here we can see Cyril Everett, aged 4, living as an ‘inmate’ in The Home For Little Boys in Horton Kirby, Kent on the 1891 census:

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The 1901 census reveals that Cyril Frederick still lived in the Home For Little Boys in Kent.

In 1908 Cyril went to Nigeria, where he worked on Lagos port. He travelled to and from Nigeria many times in the following years - we counted 15 separate journeys from the UK to Nigeria in our passenger lists. Here you can see one of the many journeys Cyril made:

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This records Cyril as a Civil Servant and also informs us that his last address in the United Kingdom was Browning Avenue in Boscombe.

Our passenger lists show that Cyril’s wife, Marcella, visited him several times in Nigeria. The journey she made in 1923 is recorded here - she’s recorded as Mrs C F C Everett:

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Cyril’s mother (Rupert’s great-grandmother), Georgina Everett nee Teague, appears on the 1871 census with her parents, Rupert’s great-great-grandparents, George and Esther Teague. George was a Railway Porter, Esther a Housekeeper and the family was living in Marylebone:

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The 1881 census shows Georgina living with her widowed mother Esther. Georgina was a Dressmaker while her mother was a Housekeeper. They were living at a ‘home for old ladies’ in Marylebone:

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Georgina Teague is a bit of a mystery: she literally disappears after the 1881 census and her marriage to Frederick William Cunningham Everett in 1883. Can you find out what happened to her? If you have any luck, post your findings underneath this blog post.

Don’t forget to watch the next instalment of Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1 at 9pm tomorrow (26 July). This week follows actor Rupert Everett as he traces back the paternal side of his family.

This promises to be a really interesting episode as Rupert learns about his paternal grandfather Cyril who worked for the Colonial Service in Nigeria. Tune in find out what Rupert discovers and if it’s what he expects…

Following Monday’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? which featured Bruce Forsyth, we’ve found his ancestors in the census records at findmypast.co.uk. We’re sure you found the programme as fascinating as we did - read on to see Bruce’s controversial great-grandfather in our census records.

Bruce Forsyth

In the 1851 census you can see Bruce’s great-grandfather, Joseph Forsyth Johnson, with his mother and grandfather (a florist/nurseryman – not a gardener as Bruce’s cousin said in the programme). They were living in West Ella, Yorkshire:

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On the 1861 census you can see Joseph Forsyth Johnson (employed as a gardener) again living with his wife Elizabeth and her parents in Gilling, Yorkshire:

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The 1881 census shows Elizabeth (working as a housekeeper) with children, living in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Joseph Forsyth Johnson was not with the family:

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Elizabeth appears again on the 1891 census in Tottenham with her children  John (Bruce’s grandfather) and Christina, who wrote the diary Bruce received in the programme. John was working as a warehouse porter and Christina as a kitchen maid. Joseph Forsyth Johnson was not with the family again - as Bruce discovered, he had hot-footed it over to the USA with a younger woman and was enjoying considerable success and prosperity as a landscape gardener.

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We’re looking forward to the rest of the series!

Don’t miss the start of a brand new series of Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1 at 9pm tomorrow (Monday 19 July). The first celebrity to have his tree researched by the programme’s experts is Bruce Forsyth. The research centres around Bruce’s great-grandfather, a prominent 19th century landscape gardener, who may have been a bigamist. Watch the programme to find out more.

The UK’s biggest family history event returns to London’s Olympia on 26-28 February for its fourth fascinating year, and findmypast.co.uk would like to welcome you into 2010 with an exclusive 2 for 1 ticket offer.

Celebrities from the TV show, including Kate Humble, will be taking to the stage to recount their fascinating family stories and sharing backstage gossip from the show with you, and there is a host of other show features to explore. With expertise available in an extensive workshop programme and one-to-one sessions, special features dedicated to identifying your photographs and military memorabilia, and around 200 specialist exhibitors, Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE has everything you need to find out who you really are.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW – 2 FOR 1 TICKET OFFER!

We’re giving you the chance to buy two adult tickets for £22 – that’s a saving of £22*! To claim this special offer and get your tickets to the country’s biggest and most comprehensive family history event, simply call the ticket hotline on 0871 230 5596 or visit www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk and quote FMP241 today!

*£2 transaction fee applies. 2 for 1 offer ends 19th February 2010. On-door standard entry tickets priced at £22 each. Workshop tickets available free on-site, or in advance at a cost of £2. This is not a BBC event.