Find My Past

In this episode of Find My Past the TV show, our three participants learn how their ancestors were involved in the infamous gunpowder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Miranda Barran discovers that her ancestor, Robert Catesby, was actually the mastermind behind the gunpowder plot – not Guy Fawkes. Cordelia Mayfield's ancestor, King James I's spymaster Sir Robert Cecil uncovered the plot and hunted down the conspirators, including Everard Digby. Will Windsor-Clive, Digby's descendant, discovers that his ancestor also played an integral part in the plot. Tune in to watch the dramatic conclusion as we unite all three participants and reveal their connection.

We reveal how our three participants are linked to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. Evie Leatham's great-great-grandfather was Lord Carnarvon, an aristocrat with a passion for Egypt who funded Howard Carter's work for 16 years. He was one of the first to enter Tutankhamun's tomb and without him, it wouldn't have been discovered. Lord Carnarvon died suddenly following the opening of Tutankhamun's burial chamber. Peter Weigall's grandfather, Arthur Weigall, was an Egyptologist and Daily Mail journalist who reported the discovery. Weigall was a former colleague and friend of Lord Carnarvon – they were bitter enemies by the time the tomb was uncovered. Weigall mysteriously predicted Lord Carnarvon's death. Samantha Blackburn is the great-great-niece of Alfred Lucas. Lucas was the tomb's forensic scientist and was known as 'Egypt's Sherlock Holmes'. Samantha is keen to understand her family history as there isn't anyone else who can tell her about it.

In this episode of Find My Past the TV show, three people learn about their ancestors' dramatic experiences of the Great Fire of London, which consumed four fifths of the medieval wooden city in 1666. Huthrie Copplestone discovers that her ancestor is famous diarist Samuel Pepys, who recorded the destruction of the fire. Schoolboy William Taswell also wrote about the fire and witnessed it at close quarters. Taswell's descendant Nigel Milne is keen to learn more about his ancestor and discovers that he lives in the same part of London where Taswell lived in 1666. Samuel Pepys' boss at the Admiralty where he worked was James Duke of York, later crowned James II. James II is often thought of as a poor monarch, losing the throne after just three years. During the fire, however, he saved many of London's buildings, including the Tower of London. James II's descendant Dr Simon Claridge knows he's related to royalty, but is amazed to learn that he's doubly related to James II.

In 1914, shortly after WWI had begun, 100,000 British and German troops were involved in an extraordinary ceasefire which lasted from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day: the Christmas truce. Corporal Walter Sinclair Smith was killed during the Christmas truce when he was caught by sniping from enemy lines. In the episode, his great-niece Lynn Miles learns fascinating – and shocking – new information about Walter's death. Andy Simm is the great-grandson of lance corporal George Ashurst who served with the Lancashire Fusiliers during WWI. Ashurst was one of the main witnesses of the Christmas truce. During the episode, Andy hears an audio recording of his great-grandfather's first-hand account of the event. Carolann Smith-Dorrien's grandfather is General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, one of the most senior commanders of the British expeditionary forces at the time of the truce. Carolann discovers how big a part her grandfather played in ending the truce.