Who Do You Think You Are? - Josh Widdicombe - 9:00 pm Sunday, January 4 on Really

About this Broadcast

Josh Widdicombe
Season 18, Episode 1

Comedian Josh Widdicombe embarks on a roller-coaster ride through his extraordinary family history. After a less than promising start with an ancestor who was cut out of the family fortune, Josh is delighted to discover a courtier with very personal access to King Charles I. From there it's back to Elizabethan and Tudor nobility and a royal love triangle

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Education/Science/Factual Topics Family And Friends History

Did You Know..

Josh Widdicombe (Presenter)

Born: April 08, 1983 in Dartmoor

Best Known For: Being a comedian and a regular on The Last Leg.

Early-life: Joshua Widdicombe was born in Dartmoor on April 8, 1983. He has a brother, Henry. Josh went on to study linguistics at the University of Manchester. He began performing stand-up in 2008 and made it to the final of So You Think You're Funny at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the same year.

Career: In 2011, Widdicombe performed his debut solo show in Edinburgh and was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award in the best newcomer category. Since 2012, he has been a regular on Channel 4's The Last Leg, alongside Adam Hills and Alex Brooker. He has also appeared on Mock the Week, QI and Have I Got News for You.

Quote: "The thing about stand-up is that you end up meeting your idols."

Trivia: In December 2013, Widdicombe won his edition of Celebrity Mastermind - his specialist subject was Blur.

Phil Davis (Narrator)

Born: July 30, 1953 in Grays, Essex

Best Known For: Bleak House.

Early-life: Born Philip Davis on 30 July, 1953, in Grays, Essex. His father worked in the local soap factory; his mother was a hospital cleaner. He enjoyed three seasons at the National Youth Theatre in his mid-teens, then landed a part in Barrie Keefe's play Gotcha about troubled teens, which later transitioned to TV, and he came to the attention of casting directors. He was then cast in cult film Quadrophenia.

Career: Davis's career took off and he played a huge range of roles throughout the 1980s and 90s. He was Prince John in the TV series Robin of Sherwood. He also took on Hollywood roles, starring in The Bounty, alongside Mel Gibson. In 2004 came Davis's much acclaimed performance in Vera Drake, the Oscar-nominated Mike Leigh film. He gained massive praise for his performance, and won the Best Actor award at the British Independent Film Awards. TV roles have included major hits like Inspector Morse, Bleak House, Fields of Gold, Sherlock, North Square, Rose and Malony, White Teeth, Doctor Who and Beau Brummell, and he is also an accomplished director.

Quote: "I just do it. It's like asking a painter about painting. They dip the brush and put it on the canvas. All I know is that if something isn't brilliant, there's no reason that you can't deliver it to the best of your ability."

Trivia: In 1980, Davis had a brief spell as a music artist when he recorded the song Blown It for Elton John's The Rocket Record Company.

Colette Flight (Executive producer)

Sarah Feltes (Series editor)

Tom McCarthy (Director)

Alisha Patel (Producer)

Erin Rooney (Producer)