Who Do You Think You Are?

Series 5 of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? opened with the actress Patsy Kensit tracing her ancestors. Patsy's story was compelling. Her father had been involved in crime, and she was hoping that this wasn't a family trait. So you see her face fall when she discovers that her grandfather forfeits his medal of honour from WW1 because he later went to prison for robbery.

Poor Patsy gets more and more nervous wondering what on earth she will uncover, and her relief is massive when she discovers a very respectable clergyman ancestor from the 19th Century. What her story illustrates is how fortunes can ebb and flow simply because of economic circumstances. Her family's descent into criminality happens because her great-grandfather's industry becomes obsolete due to technology. Her great-grandfather manages to hold onto respectability despite straightened conditions but his children do not.

Patsy herself seems to have been rescued by her mother, who was determined to keep her children away from any criminal activity. To view the episode click here.