 Who would have thought family history could burst to life so dramatically, asks David Knox?
I readily admit to knowing very little about my ancestry. I think there’s a predominance of British heritage in there, a smattering of Swiss (which probably explains a habit for fence-sitting) and an Egyptian prince. Ok, I made that bit up.
So it’s a constant surprise to me how entertaining I find the genealogy series, Who Do You Think You Are? The original British series has already aired on UKTV, and enjoyed a second run on SBS. Now SBS has launched a locally made spin-off with outstanding results.
Last week, Jack Thompson learned his family tree bore an Irish convict banished for ‘highway robbery’. An emotional Thompson proudly trumpeted he had discovered “Australian royalty!” His great, great grandfather even owned a tavern – ironic given Thompson now co-owns a Katoomba pub with his son.
It’s these deep-seated emotional responses that make this series so compelling. What celebrities learn about their past also resonates as a comment on Australian social history. We are, essentially, a land of immigrants.
This week, the gorgeous Kate Ceberano takes up the challenge. Like Kylie, Debbie and Tina, she is one of those Aussie girls we’ve watched grow into womanhood. Kate now lives in Melbourne with her mother, Cherie, and daughter, and in embarking on this journey freely admits, “I would love to find out what drives my mum”.
With a history steeped in Hawaiian, Polynesian and European lineage, Ceberano has always believed her past was dotted with “pirates and bums”. What she uncovers is not far removed from this, but there are much richer lessons to follow.
Guided by the show’s meticulous researchers, Ceberano’s journey takes her to Adelaide, Sydney and Tasmania. She learns her ancestors were actually fellow artists, with pioneering lives in music and painting. It’s a revelation that floors Ceberano; suddenly in touch with her heritage in ways she never dreamed possible.
Lovingly produced, this series becomes a living detective story. Archival records and DNA serve as clues, and its strong storytelling holds our attention brilliantly. Other guests in this series include Ita Buttrose, Cathy Freeman and Geoffrey Robertson, before SBS resumes UK eps with Julian Clary, Jane Horrocks and David Tennant.
If all the participants wear their hearts on their sleeves as much as Thompson and Ceberano, there is easily enough reason to commission a second series.
Who Do You Think You Are? airs 7:30pm Sunday on SBS.
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