Who Do You Think You Are?

Jack Thompson looms large in the Australian imagination from such iconic films as Breaker Morant and The Man from Snowy River. Born John Hadley Pain in Sydney in 1940, he knows very little about the history of his biological family. When his mother died, Jack was sent to a local boarding school as their father Harold was unable to look after them. Eventually Jack was adopted by the Thompson family and he took their name. For the first time, Jack Thompson, legend of the Australian screen, discovers the history of his biological relations and the importance of us knowing our own stories.

Footy legend and latter day ‘Knight in Shining Armour’ Ron Barassi has always believed that actions speak louder than words. He embarks on a journey into his ancestry tracing the Barassi family line back to the Victorian Gold Rush and discovers a heart-rending tale of violence, tragedy and redemption.

Magda Szubanski is the actor behind many of Australia’s most loved comic characters. Magda has always been a fearless performer. But where is that courage from? To better understand how world events have shaped her family, Magda will trace the lives of two ancestors. Both were forced to make grim choices and both were forced to confront with the brutality of war.

Comedian Shaun Micallef unravels his father’s childhood war-time story in Malta, and discovers other ancestors who were players in some of the most extraordinary moments in modern history.

Comedian Adam Hills retraces the desperate journeys of his migrant ancestors, torn apart by war and prejudice as they search for a new life.

A generation ago Andrew Denton’s family anglicised their name from Ditkofsky to Denton, in an effort to keep members safe at a time of entrenched racial intolerance. Andrew now attempts to find out more about his family's past.

Internationally celebrated actor Geoffrey Rush believes he hails from a long line of farmers but an exploration of his heritage sees him discover an ancestor fighting for justice in the face of corruption and another desperate to succeed in a golden age of creativity.

In this new season, eight of Australia's most respected and recognisable faces retrace the footsteps of their ancestors across the country and around the world, as they strive to make sense of the present by connecting with their family's paths. Award-winning stand-up comedian and host of 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' Julia Morris finds her great grandfather in controversial Labor Premier J.T. Lang's intimate inner circle, and she investigates whether her grandfather was involved in the Irish Republican Army.

Veteran performer, Noni Hazlehurst, goes in search of the secrets her parents held so tightly. This journey will be a revelation to Noni. She’ll come to understand the impact of war on her immediate family, and why she knows so little about her world-renowned performing ancestors.

TV personality Scott Cam reveals his paternal family changed their surname from Caminiti to Cam during WWII. But, beyond this historical detail, Scott knows little about his Italian ancestors.

Journalist and television personality, Lisa Wilkinson, is on a deeply personal quest to unearth the truth about her maternal ancestors.

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.

Actor and director Simon Baker learns about a legacy left by his three-times great grandfather, and the substantial courage and fortitude of his female ancestors.

The late comedian Barry Humphries investigates a royal scandal from his father's ancestry, and unravels his mysterious maternal family history.

As she traces elusive ancestors from London to Cyprus to New Zealand, actor and producer Claudia Karvan is floored and unexpectedly moved by the tragedy and courage of her family's past.