Bafta winner Vicky already knew she had a strong military history in her family after she accompanied her D-Day hero grandad on the Normandy beaches last year
Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure will travel to Japan for Who Do You Think You Are? as she retraces her great-grandfather’s footsteps.
The star of ITV’s Trigger Point goes on an emotional journey as she discovers the story of her ancestor’s experience as a prisoner of war. Bafta winner Vicky, 41, already knew she had a strong military history within her family after she last year accompanied her D-Day hero grandad on the Normandy beach where he fought 80 years ago.
In an ITV documentary, Vicky McClure: My Grandad’s War, she wiped away tears as 97-year-old Royal Navy veteran Ralph McClure described his experience as “hell let loose”.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the BBC family history series, with other big names including Spice Girl Mel C, comedian Paddy McGuinness and sporting legend Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill. They will be joined by pop star Olly Murs, Strictly Come Dancing’s 2021 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis and former Towie favourite Gemma Collins.
Ex-Top Gear host McGuinness, 50, discovers the role his grandfather played during the Second World War, while Mel C, 50, unearths a political activist as she delves into the story of how her family survived the Great Famine in Ireland. Executive producer Colette Flight said: “The celebrities have been moved to tears, laughter, anger and joy learning about their ancestors’ lives.”
BBC history boss Simon Young said: “Time and again, it proves the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction, while helping us all to understand the history of Britain and the world much better.”
Who Do You Think You Are? will air on BBC1 this summer