The WORST episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? (AU)
Every episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (AU) ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? (AU)!
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 - John Waters
Season 14 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/20/2023
Veteran actor and musician, John Waters, was born in the UK and came to Australia at the age of 19. On this episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, John returns to his homeland to investigate his paternal Scottish working-class roots. Despite being close to his father, John knows little about his family background. He's particularly interested to find out more about the tragic, accidental death of his father's 13-year-old brother. On his mother's side, John journeys to the Caribbean and discovers the significant role his family played at a pivotal time in the region's colonial history.
#4 - Rodger Corser
Season 10 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/18/2019
Actor Rodger Corser rose to fame for his roles in the award-winning crime series Underbelly and the critically-acclaimed Glitch, and for the series lead on Doctor, Doctor. But while Rodger is comfortable donning the mask of a character, exploring his own identity is a little more daunting.
#5 - 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.
#6 - 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#7 - 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.
#8 - Justin Hodges
Season 13 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/5/2022
On this episode of Who Do You Think You Are? legendary rugby league footballer, Justin Hodges is on a mission to learn more about his indigenous family history. On his mother's side, Justin traces the story of his mysterious great grandmother, from profound dislocation to an astounding family legacy. Following his father's family, Justin journeys to the Torres Strait Islands where he discovers a pioneering and heroic great uncle.
#9 - Derryn Hinch
Season 14 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/16/2023
Veteran journalist Derryn Hinch has long been curious about the identity of his mother's father. His one clue, a childhood portrait of his mother Betty, leads Derryn to suspect her father was an English sailor. But on this episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?', Derryn submits to a DNA test with heart-rending results. On his paternal side, Derryn discovers a shared bond with an intrepid matriarch, and the surprising war-survival story of an uncle he'd previously dismissed as merely a larrikin.
#10 - Rhonda Burchmore
Season 14 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/23/2023
In this episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?', entertainer, Rhonda Burchmore, investigates her mysterious maternal grandfather who abandoned her mother as a child. In the process, she's thrilled to discover a performer in her family. On her father's side, Rhonda finds an intriguing guardian angel, who came to the rescue of her widowed great grandmother and her 11 children. As she unravels the mystery, Rhonda discovers a fascinating entrepreneur who amassed a fortune and left an amazing legacy to the people of Sydney.
#11 - Stephen Page
Season 14 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/30/2023
In this episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?', artistic director and choreographer Stephen Page investigates his mother's maternal history and is surprised to discover his 2x great grandfather was a charismatic sailor and fisherman from the Philippines who left an extraordinary family legacy. Searching for his mysterious great grandfather, who he thinks is Maori, leads Stephen to a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, and an emotional meeting with family he never knew he had.
#12 - Peter Helliar
Season 14 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/6/2023
Comedian, author, presenter and producer Peter Helliar values his close family connections and is determined to remedy his lack of knowledge about his ancestry. In this episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Peter discovers his family past, uncovering the story of a maternal ancestor deeply traumatised by his experience at Gallipoli, and on his father’s side, embracing an Irish rogue and a thrilling link to an AFL pioneer.
#13 - Kerry Armstrong
Season 14 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/13/2023
In this episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' actor Kerry Armstrong is amazed to discover a line of rebellious and free-spirited women in her family’s history, who weren't afraid to stand up for their rights. In her father's paternal line, Kerry finds an ancestor with whom she shares a remarkable connection. She travels to Tasmania to retrace her relative's movements and uncovers a fascinating story along the way. Kerry also deals with a traumatic event in her own life when her mother passes away suddenly during filming. But, after consulting her family, Kerry decides to complete the exploration of her ancestry, in honour of her late mother. Kerry also explores the mystery behind her strong connection to the sea and discovers an intriguing explanation for her free-spiritedness and her life-long fascination with the ocean and sailing.
#14 - Barry Humphries
Season 14 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/2/2023
On this episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?', comedian Barry Humphries journeys back to 18th Century England and discovers how a royal scandal intersects with his ancestor, a humble, rural grocer. On his maternal side, Barry has long been curious as to why his mother's family history was never discussed. His investigations unearth characters and events that help Barry better understand his mother's difficult character.
Watch Now:Amazon
#17 - Scott Cam
Season 10 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/30/2019
TV personality Scott Cam reveals his paternal family changed their surname from Caminiti to Cam during World War Two. But, beyond this historical detail, Scott knows little about his Italian ancestors, including what compelled them to leave their homeland for a ‘sunburnt country’.
Watch Now:Amazon
#18 - Jack Thompson
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/13/2008
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.
Watch Now:Amazon
#19 - Vince Colosimo
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/17/2012
Actor Vince Colosimo unravels the truth about his grandfather’s extraordinary war experience and tries to find out who his mysterious grandmother was.
#20 - Dennis Cometti
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/10/2008
Dennis Cometti is the best known and most authoritative Australian Rules football commentator in Australia. Millions of football fans around the nation admire and respect his droll, quirky commentary. He knows everything there is to know about the genealogy of the AFL, confidently recalling any player’s pedigree, background and performance statistics – he spends hours researching the history of the game. But ask the ‘footy statistic guru’ about his own family and it is an entirely different story. He claims he has never had time to look into his own history. Dennis wants to reconnect with his Italian identity. Everyone else identifies with him being Italian and he’s bemused because he doesn’t - he can’t even speak the language. Who Do You Think You Are?® takes Dennis on a journey to explore his rich Italian heritage.
#21 - Richard Roxburgh
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/29/2014
Actor Richard Roxburgh discovers his family’s footprints in an unexpected corner of the world, finding two ancestors on opposite sides of the fierce struggle over slavery. In a cruel and unjust world, he finds a courageous figure giving hope and guidance to the oppressed.
Watch Now:Apple TV#22 - Paula Duncan
Season 13 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/19/2022
Actress and philanthropist Paula Duncan investigates an unexplored line of her paternal ancestry and is confronted by the brutal history of colonial Australia. Delving into her maternal history, Paula's investigation leads her to a mysterious family heirloom. Searching for the origin of the pure gold brooch owned by her great grandmother Margaret O'Brien reveals the moment a life of hardship is turned around by a defining period in Australian history - the Gold Rush.
Watch Now:Amazon
