Genealogy Television Series & Videos

DNA Detectives (2015-2017)

DNA Detectives is a documentary television series from New Zealand, and hosted by Richard O’Brien from the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  With each episode, the DNA and family trees of two celebrities are researched. 

Finding Your Roots (2012-2023+)

Finding Your Roots is a documentary television series from PBS, and hosted by Dr. Louis Henry Gates.  Each episode reveals the family tree of celebrities with a "book of life," as well as DNA results and relations to their fellow celebrities.

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Heir Hunters (2007-2017)

Heir Hunters is a reality television series from the BBC in the UK, which focuses on several British firms that track down heirs of unclaimed estates using genealogy, and by doing so, claim a percentage of the estate in commission.

Long Lost Family (2011-2024)

Long Lost Family is a documentary television series from ITV in the UK.  In each episode they help people locate their birth parents, etc.  The production posture of the UK version is significantly better than the US version.

My DNA Mystery (2022)

My DNA Mystery is a documentary television series which aired on TLC and features non-celebrities who discover a family secret via DNA.  I stopped after the first episode as the posture is like a daytime talk show.

Our Father (2022)

Our Father is a documentary movie about a fertility doctor from Indiana, who inseminated dozens of patients with his own sperm, based on his strange beliefs.  It covers the aftermath on how his actions came to light via DNA.

Secrets, Lies & DNA Ties (2022)

Secrets, Lies & DNA Ties is a documentary television series from Canada about the two owners of company called DNA Confidential.  The posture is like a day time talk show and was so bad that I didn't finish the first episode.

DNA Journey (2019-2024)

DNA Journey is a documentary television series from the UK and also known as Our DNA Journey.  Each episode pairs two celebrities and together the uncover their DNA.  All of the episodes are on Ancestry's YouTube channel.

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Genealogy Roadshow (2013-2016)

Genealogy Roadshow is a documentary television series from PBS.  The premise is similar to Antiques Roadshow.  Unlike other genealogy series that feature celebrities, this features PBS viewers from across the country.

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The Human Family Tree (2009)

The Human Family Tree is a documentary movie from National Geographic, and narrated by Kevin Bacon.   The series recounts several dozen people from New York City who were DNA tested by a team of researchers.

The Man With 1000 Kids (2024)

The Man with 1000 Kids is a documentary mini series from Netflix.  It is about a Dutch man, who was accused of being a serial sperm donor, and fathering hundreds of children and defrauding vulnerable families.

My Family Secrets Revealed (2018)

My Family Secrets Revealed is a documentary television series from the UK.  It is a similar to Genealogy Roadshow, which aired on PBS, and unlike other genealogy series that feature celebrities, this series features non-celebrities.

Relative Race (2016-2024+)

Relative Race is a documentary television series produced by Brigham Young University (BYU).  It is a reality competition series where four teams compete to find relatives.   have not yet seen it yet, but hope to in the near future. 

Who Do You Think You Are? (US 2010-20)

Who Do You Think You Are? is a documentary television series.  The series was adapted from a long running UK series of the same name. Each episode features a celebrity who meets with professional genealogists and historians.

Faces of America (2010)

Faces of America is a documentary television series from PBS, and hosted by Dr. Louis Henry Gates.  It was a one season predecessor of Finding Your Roots.  Each episode reveals the family tree of celebrities with a "book of life."

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The Genetic Detective (2020)

The Genetic Detective is a documentary television series from ABC.  The series features investigative genetic genealogist CeCe Moore.  Each episode recounts the solving of a cold case using DNA and family tree research.

Long Lost Family (2016-2019)

Long Lost Family is a documentary television series from TLC that was adapted from the UK series.  In each episode they help people locate their birth parents, etc.  The production posture of the UK version is significantly better.

Murder, Mystery, & My Family (2018-2020)

Murder, Mystery, and My Family is a documentary television series from the BBC in the UK.  Each episode reviews a historical case of someone convicted of murder, and the results are presented to a judge (non-binding).

A New Leaf (2019)

A New Leaf is a documentary television series from NBC, sponsored by Ancestry, and hosted by Daisy Fuentes.  Unlike other series that feature celebrities, it features non-celebrities.  It's very abbreviated due to episode length.

Roots Less Traveled (2020)

Roots Less Traveled is a documentary television series from NBC, sponsored by Ancestry, and hosted by Faruq Tauheed.  The series is more or less a reboot of A New Leaf, and features non-celebrities, and very abbreviated.

Who Do You Think You Are? (UK 2004-24)

Who Do You Think You Are? is a documentary television series from the BBC in the UK. It features British celebrities, and has spawned versions in other countries.  The official channel on YouTube contains many full episodes.