The BAFTA-winning genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? will return to BBC One and iPlayer in spring 2026 for its 23rd series. Produced by Wall to Wall Media, the new run features eight celebrities exploring their family histories.
The line-up includes Adeel Akhtar, Amy Dowden, Harriet Walter, Joe Swash, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Ruth Madeley, Toby Jones and Zoe Ball. Their investigations take them across the UK and internationally, with destinations including Australia, Tasmania, Italy, India, the Bahamas and Kenya.
Among the stories uncovered, Adeel Akhtar traces his Indian-Kenyan roots to a sea voyage from Gujarat and discovers his ancestors' role in founding Nairobi. Amy Dowden investigates a family murder linked to a West Wales farmhouse. Harriet Walter learns of a relative's secret intelligence work in the Second World War, while Joe Swash uncovers a tale of outlaws in Southern Italy.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson explores her Bahamian heritage in the Exuma Islands, learning of her family's migration to Miami during racial segregation. Ruth Madeley uses DNA testing to solve a family adoption mystery, and Toby Jones follows a rumour from Margate to Meerut in India. Zoe Ball discovers a story of hardship and survival in her Scottish and Cornish roots.
Simon Young, BBC Head of Commissioning, History, said the series "never fails to astonish and surprise." Colette Flight, executive producer for Wall to Wall Media, said the celebrities discover "how the incredible stories of their ancestors have shaped their family, and them."
The series is executive produced by Colette Flight with Lucy Swingler as series producer, and is distributed by Warner Bros. International Television Production. It launches on BBC One and iPlayer this spring.
