A great history radio series has started on BBC Radio 4. Dan Cruickshank is the writer and presenter. Available on BBC iplayer which anyone anywhere in the world can access free of charge via the internet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sxj2l/The_London_Nobody_Knows_Episode_1/

The BBC has announced that Bruce Forsyth is among celebrities tracing their family trees on the new series of BBC One ancestry show Who Do You Think You Are?

Producers say the Strictly Come Dancing host finds a letter suggesting his great-grandfather, a leading landscape gardener, was a bigamist. Bruce Forsyth’s great-grandfather, Joseph Forsyth Johnson, designed a number of UK estates and curated the Royal Botanic Gardens in Belfast. He also created gardens in the US and refurbished Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Forsyth, 82 – real name Bruce Joseph Forsyth Johnson – comes from a line of horticulturists including William Forsyth, who gave his name to the shrub forsythia.

The nine-part series will also feature actor Rupert Everett, following the recent death of his father, Rupert Everett uncovers the truth behind a family mystery and meets a relative for the first time "in the most unexpected place".

One episode will feature married couple Rupert Penry-Jones and Dervla Kirwan who explores the life of her great great uncle, Irish revolutionary Michael Collins

Other celebrities appearing on the series, which starts at the end of July, include Broadway star Alan Cumming, comedy actor Alexander Armstrong. gardener Monty Don and singer Jason Donovan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/familyhistory/

I’ve been listening to “Making History” on the BBC iplayer whilst working on the Mad About Genealogy website. This is a great programme presented by Vanessa Collingridge, it usually consists of 3 or 4 items concerning queries that listeners have written in about. I haven’t heard a dud programme yet, all have been interesting.

Highly recommended listening whilst tracking down your ancestors on the computer!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sm4tl/Making_History_08_06_2010/

The BBC have just announced ………………….

“The BBC World Service (Radio) is launching a new daily history programme at the end of October.  It’s to be called Witness and will focus on the memories and testimonies of people who lived through historic events.    We’ll mix those testimonies with material from the BBC’s audio archive – to tell personal stories on air.

Not just the war, but scientific discoveries,  social changes, sporting events, art, fashion… really we’re interested in hearing from anyone who has a story to tell.

Obviously, as the international arm of BBC radio we’ll be talking to people all over the world but we don’t want to neglect the UK.”

Website with genealogy themed videos. For those moments when you hit a brick wall and need a little light relief!!

 http://gentube.ancestry-world.com/