Zoe Ball lands big new BBC gig
Zoe Ball is set for a major new BBC role, joining the upcoming series of Who Do You Think You Are? when it returns to BBC One and iPlayer in Spring 2026.
The beloved BAFTA-winning genealogy show is back for its 23rd series, produced by Wall to Wall Media, with an impressive celebrity line-up that includes Adeel Akhtar, Amy Dowden, Harriet Walter, Joe Swash, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Ruth Madeley, Toby Jones, and former Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Zoe Ball, who is in the running to host Strictly Come Dancing.
Zoe Ball takes on emotional family journey
TV and radio favourite Zoe Ball will explore her Scottish and Cornish roots in the new series, uncovering a deeply personal story of hardship, tragedy and survival.
Her appearance marks a significant new BBC project for the presenter, who remains one of the corporation’s most recognisable and trusted faces. Fans can expect an emotional and revealing journey as she traces her ancestry across generations.
Star-studded line-up for new series
The next instalment of the hit genealogy show sees eight celebrities delve into their roots to discover their incredible family histories. Spanning centuries, the series follows them as they uncover stories of strength, love, tragedy, rebellion, and resilience.
Filming takes viewers across the UK—from London to Glasgow—and to international locations including Australia, Tasmania, Italy, India, the Bahamas and Kenya.
Highlights from the series include:
BAFTA-winning actor Adeel Akhtar discovering an amazing family secret, tracing his Indian-Kenyan roots to a sea voyage from Gujarat and uncovering his ancestors' pioneering role in the foundation of Nairobi.
Professional dancer Amy Dowden stepping away from the dance floor to solve a family murder, with the investigation leading her to West Wales and revealing an emotional story with powerful parallels to her own life.
Olivier and Emmy award-winning actor Harriet Walter uncovering a family member's secret intelligence role during the Second World War and exploring the scandalous life of a noble Italian ancestor.
Joe Swash tracing his roots from Little Italy to Southern Italy, where he uncovers a dramatic family story involving outlaws and crime.
Powerful personal histories uncovered
The series also shines a light on remarkable global stories:
Katarina Johnson-Thompson explores her Bahamian roots in the Exuma Islands, tracing her family’s migration to Miami during a time of racial segregation and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.
Ruth Madeley uncovers a long-buried adoption secret, using DNA testing and detailed genealogical research to identify a lost ancestor.
Toby Jones investigates a family rumour that takes him from Margate to Meerut in North India, where he makes an astonishing discovery about his lineage.
BBC promises another powerful season
Simon Young, BBC Head of Commissioning, History, says:
“This series never fails to astonish and surprise. And in all of the hidden histories it uncovers - aided by the generosity and openness of a simply exceptional cast - we can find a sample of the incredible richness and diversity that makes up modern Britain. Who Do You Think You Are? is social history that brings us all together.”
Colette Flight, Executive Producer for Wall to Wall Media, says:
“Who Do You Think You Are? returns with eight more of our best-loved celebrities investigating secrets and solving mysteries in their family trees. Travelling across the UK and the globe, we see their astonishment, delight, laughter and tears as they discover how the incredible stories of their ancestors have shaped their family, and them. Along the way they learn about the dramatic social forces and historical events that impacted their families, from Victorian silent prisons to the American civil rights movement, from Italian brigands to bankruptcy.”
Who Do You Think You Are? returns to BBC One and iPlayer in Spring 2026.