The Secret DNA of Us is a world first television series in which four Australian towns and neighbourhoods are offered mass DNA tests to unveil wild hidden chapters of our history and reveal more about who we are as a nation.
Premiering on SBS and SBS On Demand from Thursday April 17 at 7.30pm, the series puts host Marc Fennell, journalist Rae Johnston and ancestry expert Brad Argent on the ground in four communities and uses DNA results to identify surprising common ancestors, unknown ethnicities and solve family mysteries.
Across four episodes the series visits Bairnsdale (Vic), Surry Hills (NSW), Geelong (Vic) and Bathurst (NSW) and in seemingly ordinary places there are extraordinary discoveries.
Host Marc Fennell said: “You may not realise it but each of us carry a global saga within our DNA. Nothing could’ve prepared me for what this show uncovers. Expect everything from royal connections to criminal conspiracies and breathtaking feats of human survival and triumph. This is the story of Australia like I’ve never seen before. I can’t wait for viewers to join the ride.”
The Secret DNA of Us is made by Eureka Productions for SBS, with major production investment from SBS and Screen Australia and financed with support from Screen NSW.
SBS Head of Unscripted Joseph Maxwell said:“The Secret DNA of Us is a compelling new series that reveals both the wonderful diversity of Australia and the deep links that unite us. It also uncovers rich seams of untold Australian history in a fresh and fascinating new way.”
Eureka Productions Executive Producer and Head of Programming Josie Mason Campbell said:”It has been fabulous to collaborate with SBS on this first of a kind, home grown factual format where we supersize the DNA genre to unlock unknown chapters of Australia’s history, reveal deeply moving personal stories and discover many newly found connections between seeming strangers. The history of our nation lives within our genetic code and the stories we uncover are nothing short of astonishing. Eureka is thrilled to share The Secret DNA of Us with Australian audiences.”
Screen Australia Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston said:“This series expands our interest in the exploration of DNA, taking it from individual to large scale community histories that reveal new connections and stories in an inventive and surprising way.”
The Secret DNA of Us airs weekly from Thursday 17 April at 7.30pm on SBS with each episode then available to stream free on SBS On Demand.
Subtitling will be available on SBS On Demand in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Korean.
Episode 1 - Join Marc Fennell and the team as they bring mass DNA testing to the Victorian town of Bairnsdale, where they give an adoptee her father’s identity, a Gunaikurnai man a new piece of the family puzzle, an ex-nurse a royal connection and reveal unlikely cousins within the community.
