The BEST episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? (AU) season 12
Every episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (AU) season 12, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? (AU) season 12!
Well-known Australians play detective as they go in search of their family history, revealing secrets from the past. Taking us to all corners of Australia and the globe are six stories of individuals seeking to find the definitive answer to where they came from. Along the way secrets are uncovered and histories are revealed—from adultery and madness to children born out of wedlock and even the whiff of a right royal scandal—with each individual discovering that their ancestors form an integral part of not only their own identity, but that of the nation. Combining emotional and personal journeys with big-picture history, these inspiring and sometimes challenging stories remind us how Australians have come to be the people that we are today. Considering Australia’s multicultural background, this is a global story, with each celebrity tracing their ancestors around the world. They travel to the places where their forebears would have lived, loved and died, and learn about the hardships and hurdles their ancestors overcame. This is a fascinating chronicle of the social, ethnic and cultural evolution of Australia’s national identity.
#1 - Jeff Fatt
Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/29/2021
Jeff Fatt, famous as the Purple Wiggle, knows his Chinese roots go back four generations into Australia’s history, but he wants details of why those ancestors came to Australia and what their lives were like.
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - Chris Bath
Season 12 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/20/2021
Setting out to discover if a mysterious Spanish governess actually existed in her Mum’s family, Chris Bath finds instead an adventurer with an entrepreneurial spirit who wasn’t afraid to tread his own path. Chris ventures into country New South Wales and is shocked to discover she has German ancestry. Uncovering the life of her German ancestors, Chris finds solidarity in their mutual love of the land and is deeply moved by the tragic fate of her three times great grandfather.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/27/2021
Singer and actor Natalie Bassingthwaighte says members of her maternal family always hold their cards close to their chest. As a result, Natalie knows little of her family history and has heard only whispers of the uncertain lineage of her beloved Grandmother Gwen. Investigating the truth behind Gwen’s ancestry, Natalie discovers a wellspring of half-truths and heartache. Searching for other secrets in her family’s past, she uncovers tales of murder, suicide and the enduring strength of a mother’s love, while, on her paternal side, Natalie investigates a rumour that an ancestor played piano for Dame Nellie Melba.
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Malcolm Turnbull
Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/15/2021
When Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull opens the book on his family history, curiosity turns to fascination when he discovers a mysterious unclaimed fortune. His family tree becomes an intriguing puzzle as he goes on a mission to answer the burning question, who got the money? Curious about unexplored family lines Malcolm delves into the history of his paternal great-grandmother’s life. Here he unearths a convict tale of survival and resilience. But uncovers a dark family secret that challenges his view on his own existence.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Denise Drysdale
Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/22/2021
Denise Drysdale takes a DNA test, and it’s no surprise to find her family hails from Scotland. But it is a shock to discover she also has DNA links to Northern Ireland. Denise finds her maternal 3 times great grandparents, John and Mary Fanning, left Northern Ireland with their children, and miraculously survived an horrific voyage to Australia. On her father's side, Denise uncovers the humour she’s looking for, in her great grandmother Betsy Drysdale, but the flip side of Betsy’s life is one of a sad struggle with alcoholism and despair.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - Celia Pacquola
Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/8/2021
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, and his talent as a landscape painter was of historic significance. She learns of the romance and tragedy of John Rae’s life in Sydney, and how that spurs him on to create a lasting legacy for future generations of Australians.
Watch Now:Amazon#7 - Uncle Jack Charles
Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/6/2021
Actor, former self-described 'serial pest', and member of the Stolen Generation, Uncle Jack Charles has never known the love of a parent. He will uncover details of the father he never knew, and make connections that will complete the jigsaw of his paternal family. His mother’s ancestral journey will take Jack to Tasmania, where he will discover a dark history and maternal ancestors whose resilience resonates with his own fighting spirit.
Watch Now:Amazon#8 - Grant Denyer
Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/13/2021
While looking into his father’s side of the family, television presenter Grant Denyer finds his three times great grandfather, Charles Kennard Ward, at the centre of a shocking secret buried deep in his family’s past. Exploring further on the paternal line, Grant traces roots to the Scottish Highlands where he finds his three times great grandmother, Ann Ross, at the centre of one the most brutal incidents of the Highland Clearances. Driven off their ancestral property, Grant’s ancestors settle in Victoria’s Western District before risking everything for the dream of owning their own land.
Watch Now:Amazon