Tracing Your Roots

Sep 20, 2024 6:53 AM

Author:Sally Magnusson,Sally Magnusson

Tracing Your Roots

Tracing Your Roots explores one of the UK's most popular pastimes: researching family history. Bestselling author Sally Magnusson follows the genealogy trail back in time, uncovering facets of social history through personal stories and giving you the information you need to add branches to your own family tree. With the right tools, you can not only find lost ancestors, but discover what they did for a living, what their lives were like, and maybe even what kind of people they were...

Accompanied by resident genealogist Nick Barratt, who offers insider tips and ideas, she talks to professional and amateur researchers, revealing the wealth of resources available and how to make the most of them. In these six series, the duo determine what clues can be gleaned from photographs, diaries and DNA analysis, learn about unravelling wartime secrets, investigate how stories handed down through generations can offer a new slant on history and hear how the manner of an ancestor's death can offer clues to the life they led. They also explain why shady characters are good news for family history hunters, tackle the issues of illegitimacy and immigration, track down relatives who vanished without trace and probe mysteries surrounding name changes and adoption.

Fascinating family stories are unearthed, as they talk to families including one woman who believes her grandmother may have been the illegitimate daughter of Louis XVI, another whose ancestor was locked away indefinitely on the Queen's orders, and two correspondents with Caribbean roots who suspect there is slavery on their family tree. Two follow-up episodes see Sally and Nick revisiting their favourite Tracing Your Roots tales, finding out what families did next and unveiling new information and lasting repercussions...

In addition, a themed show, tied in with the British Library's 'History of the World in 100 Objects' project, investigates family heirlooms, and four special episodes mark events including the 90th anniversary of World War One, Scotland's Homecoming Year and the 2011 Census.

Production credits

Presented by Sally Magnusson, with resident genealogist Nick Barratt

Produced by Anne McNaught (Series 1-2), Moira Hickey (Series 3, 5), Claire White (Series 4) and Lucy Lloyd (Series 6)

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 March-16 April 2007 (Series 1), 24 October-28 November 2007 (Series 2), 11 May 2008 (Family History Special), 20 August-24 September 2008 (Series 3), 7 November 2008 (90th Anniversary of World War 1 Special), 2 August 2009 (Homecoming Scotland Special), 31 August-28 September 2009 (Series 4), 14 September-12 October 2010 (Series 5), 20 March 2011 (Census Special), 13 September-11 October 2011 (Series 6)

Reviews

An invaluable, outstanding and unique resource laced with empathy, wisdom and constructive ideas for those whose lives have been touched by loss and tragedy.

—— Dr Shelley Gilbert MBE, Founder and President of Grief Encounter and author of Griefbook

Hope Edelman remains unmatched in perfectly weaving touching personal anecdotes with illuminating scientific data, to remind us we are not alone. The author of the seminal Motherless Daughters continues to be at the forefront of changing how the world understands loss, and The AfterGrief is no exception.

—— Rachel Reichblum of That Good Grief

In the 1970s the phone rang one Friday afternoon when I was aged thirteen and I was told my mum was dead. If I'd had a road map like this for dealing with grief it would have changed my childhood.

—— Tony Livesey, journalist and broadcaster at BBC Radio 5 Live

A mix of personal stories and advice from bereavement expert Hope Edelman

—— Woman's Weekly

A fantastic guide packed with easy practical tips to sustain those good habits

—— Professor Tim Spector, author of Spoon-Fed and The Diet Myth

A blame-free book

—— Telegraph

Rangan schools us on how to discover the cause of weight gain, how to nourish our bodies without crash diets and gruelling workouts and explains a toolbox of techniques to help you lose weight for good (if that's what you want)

—— Get the Gloss

Fad diets and intense workouts don't work and one size certainly doesn't fit all. But if you can build a 'tool box' of techniques, you can and will be in charge of your own weight loss and maintenance

—— Evening Standard

His new book (...) empowers you to improve your health - and your diet - for good

—— Closer Magazine

This takes a holistic look at dieting. Rangan explains why sleeping more can be more effective than cutting back on foods you love, which is perfect for lockdown living

—— David Atherton (Great British Bake Off 2019 winner), Daily Express

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