Confirmed by SBS at its 2020 upfronts. Also featuring in season 11 are Troy Cassar-Daley and Bert Newton with more names to come. Patti Newton appeared on the final episode of season 9.
UPDATE 20/4: the complete line-up for season 11 include Lisa Wilkinson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Bert Newton, former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Kat Stewart, Cameron Daddo, Denise Scott and Lisa Curry. It premieres on Tuesday, May 19 at 7.30pm.
From Tuesday 19 May at 07:30 PM
In Series 11 of “Who Do You Think You Are?”, our inquisitive personalities unlock past mysteries and
unbelievable real-life stories from across the world. In Australia, and across the world, this fascinating
series delivers history that is both personal and universal.This season, viewers can expect tears, laughter, shocking discoveries, emotional revelations and some intriguing surprises. One of the cast discovers the father they never knew was a true patriot who devoted his life to his country, while another traces lost German roots. One learns about heroic wartime adventures and another gets insights into their Indigenous history. as these renowned Australians travel around the world to explore their family trees and delve back centuries into their ancestry. Through these journeys, a rare insight into their lives behind the cameras emerge.
The emotional and personal stories in Who Do You Think You Are? reveal a bigger picture of Australia’s diverse national identity.
Julie Bishop, Kat Stewart, Cameron Daddo, Denise Scott and Lisa Curry join the cast of the much-loved genealogy series, which investigates the ancestry of prominent Australians. The all-new eight-part season also features previously announced Australian icons Lisa Wilkinson, Bert Newton, and Troy Cassar-Daley
Next week’s season premiere has been getting a lot of coverage in the media, including this one from The Age Green Guide tomorrow:
The show will return in 2021 for season 12, with first two personalities announced.
Well-known Australians including Celia Pacquola and Uncle Jack Charles, play detective as they go in search of their family history, revealing secrets from the past. Taking us to all corners of Australia and the globe are eight stories of individuals seeking to find the definitive answer to where they came from. Along the way, secrets are uncovered and histories are revealed, as each person discovers just who their ancestors were.
From Tuesday 8 June, 8 episodes.
Who Do You Think You Are? takes celebrities on a personal journey into their past, sharing their emotion and surprise as they uncover stories at the heart of their family history. In Series 12, all 8 episodes will be shot exclusively in Australia.
Chris Bath, Celia Pacquola, Malcolm Turnbull, Jack Charles, Grant Denyer, Denise Drysdale, Jeff Fatt, Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Synopsis of season 12 premiere
When Celia Pacquola digs into her beloved mum’s family, she finds her three-times Scottish great-grandfather, John Rae, was Sydney’s first Town Clerk, and his talent as a landscape painter was of historic significance. She learns of the romance and tragedy of John Rae’s life in Sydney, and how that spurs him on to create a lasting legacy for future generations of Australians.
Season 12 broadcast schedule (this post updates)
June 8 - Celia Pacquola
June 15 - Malcolm Turnbull
June 22 - Denise Drysdale
June 29 - Jeff Fatt
July 6 - Uncle Jack Charles (NAIDOC Week)
July 13 - Grant Denyer
July 20 - Chris Bath
July 27 - Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte is on Stellar magazine today ahead of her episode on July 27.
Interesting that two personalities from 10 (Sandra Sully and Dr Chris Brown) are on the show. Sign of more collaboration between 10 and SBS?
From Tuesday 21 June 07:30 PM
Eight prominent Australian personalities delve into the mystery of their ancestral pasts when Who Do You Think You Are? returns to SBS on Tuesday, 21 June at 7.30pm. Joining the all-star cast of season 13 is Hollywood actor and director Simon Baker, radio, and television broadcaster Myf Warhurst, NRL legend Justin Hodges, popular vet and television personality Dr Chris Brown, actress and philanthropist Paula Duncan, chef and restauranteur Matt Moran, 10 News First presenter Sandra Sully and netball champion Liz Ellis.
In this deeply personal experience, we see participants embark on a whirlwind journey from capital cities to the most rural parts of the Australian landscape. From discoveries of brutality and heartbreak to perseverance and strength, we catch a glimpse into the lives of our most loved celebrities as they reflect on the stories at the core of their family tree.
Simon Baker said: “When I started this journey, I looked back at my immediate family as this sort of mess. But the truth is, families have many different forms and I think if you can look at your own past and the past of your ancestors with compassion, you can carry that forward with you with a little bit more wisdom.”
In this season, viewers will see one participant uncover the truth surrounding the identity of her dad’s father, while another discovers his great grandfather walked from Sydney to Bathurst at just six years old, leaving behind a life of crime and turmoil. One participant discovers his three times great grandfather was an Irish orphan who, against all odds, became a pioneering eye surgeon, leaving behind an incredible legacy to this nation.
Sandra Sully said: “I think this experience is one of the greatest gifts myself and my family could ever have. It’s given a greater understanding of why my parents are the way they are.”
While exploring his Indigenous roots, one participant discovers spirits, heroes, and long lost family, finding a sense of spirituality he never knew existed. With multiple links to the gold rush, one participant searches for the origin of a pure gold brooch owned by her great grandmother, while another is determined to learn the truth about a ‘handshake adoption’. These intimate and often surprising journeys reflect the diversity of Australia and the natural human desire to belong.
Bernadine Lim, SBS Commissioning Editor for Documentaries said: “Who Do You Think You Are? is one of SBS’s most loved series. Through the personal stories of some of Australia’s biggest names, the program explores the universal desire of wanting to understand our past and where we came from. A fascinating journey that is often described as lifechanging for those involved, Who Do You Think You Are? Season 13 promises to captivate and entertain. From Australia’s major cities to rural communities, stories of passion, hardship and triumph colour the history of these Australian families, provoking cause for discussion and reflection on our diverse origins”
Who Do You Think You Are? is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia for SBS. The series airs at 7:30pm Tuesdays on SBS and SBS On Demand starting 21 June.
Who Do You Think You Are? Season 13 will be subtitled in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean on SBS On Demand.
Episode 1: Simon Baker preview
Just a coincidence, I’d say. I know somebody that works on these back stories. He mentioned that sometimes they’ll be working on it for a few years, gathering the info and finding the time free in the person’s schedule to film it. Also, sometimes they will drop a person from the show even if they did plenty of background work because they didn’t find anything particularly interesting in their ancestry.
Myf Warhurst was on Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam and Browny this morning to talk about her episode, which would air at the end of June*. Myf said she filmed her stories mid 2021, during the COVID lockdown in Melbourne, and she required special permission to travel out of Melbourne. She visited Bendigo, the Goldfields and Swan Hill. She said it was a raw and emotional experience but it was worthwhile.
*the season premiere (Simon Baker) airs on June 21 so Myf’s episode should be on June 28.
Also coming up
Tue, 12 July 07:30 PM
Tue, 19 July 07:30 PM
Tue, 26 July 07:30 PM
Tue, 02 Aug 07:30 PM
That means Sandra Sully’s episode will air last, on Tuesday August 9.
Derryn Hinch, Barry Humphries and Rhonda Burchmore are the first three personalities confirmed for the 2023 season.
Hopefully some of these ancestries will take them further afield than Australia next year.
Premieres Tuesday May 2 at 7.30pm
Join eight prominent Australians as they trek across the globe on an expansive journey that ultimately leads them back home, and to a better understanding of themselves, in the brand new season of Who Do You Think You Are?.
In episode one, international superstar Barry Humphries investigates a royal scandal in his father’s ancestry and unravels the great mystery of his maternal family history. Confident he’s the most interesting person in his family tree, Barry is on a quest to be proven wrong.
In episode two, one of Australia’s most experienced and respected journalists, Jenny Brockie, uncovers surprising secrets hidden in her mother’s family tree, and embarks on an emotional journey to solve the mystery of her father’s ancestry.
Jenny Brockie said: “I was always questioning and wanting to know things, which is unsurprising, but my mum wasn’t very yielding on a lot of things, and she particularly wasn’t yielding on my father, and details about my father.”
Journalist, commentator, author, and former Senator Derryn Hinch takes a deep dive into his family’s roots in episode three, revealing the truth surrounding the identity of his mother’s father, and uncovering a surprising war survival story on his father’s side.
Derryn Hinch said: “I’ve found this journey to be a rollercoaster. Things I thought were real weren’t… It has been taxing, but it’s been wonderfully taxing. It’s torn at the heartstrings. And I’ve discovered things that have been quite a revelation.”
In episode four, multi-talented entertainer and show business veteran Rhonda Burchmore discovers the truth about the maternal grandfather she never knew. And on her father’s side, she uncovers the story of a fascinating entrepreneur who left an amazing legacy to the people of Sydney.
World-renowned choreographer and artistic director Stephen Page has long been curious about his mother Doreen’s ancestry. Born to a white father, Doreen supressed her indigenous identity to survive racism in 1950s Australia. In episode five, Stephen takes part in an emotional and unexpected journey, making a series of surprising and moving revelations along the way.
Stand-up comedian, writer, presenter and producer Peter Helliar discovers his family past in episode six, uncovering the story of a maternal ancestor deeply traumatised by his experience at Gallipoli, and on his father’s side, embracing an Irish rogue and a thrilling link to an AFL pioneer.
Peter Hellier said: “I really love AFL. It’s my happy place and I often thank my dad for passing that onto me. My whole family are Collingwood. We literally go to the football every week, and we love it. Footy to me means many things, but if I was really to get to the heart of it, it’s about family”.
In episode seven renowned film, television, and stage actor Kerry Armstrong searches for clues to her own character and is amazed to discover a line of rebellious and free-spirited women who weren’t afraid to stand up for their rights. She also explores the mystery behind her strong connection to the sea. During the filming of this episode, Kerry faces an unexpected and deeply moving personal loss.
In the final episode of the season, respected and celebrated actor and musician John Waters explores his family’s history, embracing working class radicals in his father’s family, and discovering a maternal ancestor at the heart of colonial Caribbean history.
John Waters said: “One of the disappointing things about the family tree done by my uncle that I had researched is that it was a fairly misogynistic thing, and only followed the male line backwards, and women just pop in, have children, and then disappear again. I’m interested in all the women that form an equal part of who I am, about whom just a name has been written on a piece of paper before now.”
Bernadine Lim, SBS Commissioning Editor for Documentaries said: “We are completely thrilled the new season of Who Do You Think You Are? will return to SBS from May 2, and with such a brilliant line-up of guests. Prepare to be delighted by Barry Humphries’ quest to prove he’s the most interesting person in his family, captivated by Jenny Brockie’s deeply emotional journey as she searches for the familial connections she has yearned for all her life, and moved as Derryn Hinch finally uncovers the long-suppressed identity of his mother’s father. And that’s just the first three episodes! With this new season Who Do You Think You Are? continues to fascinate, amuse and enthral Australian audiences, resonating with our universal desire to discover our origins, in all their diversity.”
Who Do You Think You Are? is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia for SBS. The series airs at 7.30pm Tuesdays on SBS and SBS On Demand, starting 2 May.
