Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones – Details, episodes & analysis

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Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones

Telegraph Media Group

History

Society & Culture

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 7

Have you ever wondered about your family history and where your story really starts?

Join British TV presenter Alex Jones as she sits down with well-known celebrities including broadcaster and writer Clive Anderson, comedian Sally Phillips, actor Alan Davies, double Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton, actor Adrian Lester and sports reporter Hayley McQueen. They’ll be joined by Laura House, Ancestry’s senior genetic genealogist and family research expert, to go on a personal journey of discovery in this new six-part podcast series.

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Biscuit Jim

Executive producers: Kellie Redmond, Geoff Jein

#telegraph #ancestryuk #ancestrydna #familyhistory #familyhistoryresearch #dna #partnerships #podcast #alexjones #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
25/08/2026
#79
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
24/08/2026
#78
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
23/08/2026
#78
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
21/08/2026
#74
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
20/08/2026
#81
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
19/08/2026
#75
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
18/08/2026
#74
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
17/08/2026
#69
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
16/08/2026
#69
🇬🇧 Great Britain - history
15/08/2026
#77

Spotify

🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
31/05/2026
#143
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
30/05/2026
#107
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
27/05/2026
#117
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
26/05/2026
#150
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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/
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https://youtu.be/lqsZRhKp-CQ?si=yrdWaoWVnXr9x2Sm
1 share
https://youtu.be/MgeQU-z6mhk?si=I0WZ1t8BbFdaKwSH
1 share
https://youtu.be/btzrgTlBhDw?si=tcps9mYxgK7qh1KW
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Score global : 63%

Publication history

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Introducing... Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 • Duration 01:14

Have you ever wondered about your family history and where your story really starts? Perhaps you have unanswered questions about the missing branches of your family tree, or you’d like to know more about the ancestors that made you who you are?

British TV presenter Alex Jones will be asking these very questions in this new podcast series Questions & Ancestors where she’ll be going on a personal journey of discovery with some very special guests, including broadcaster and writer Clive Anderson, comedian Sally Phillips, actor Alan Davies, double Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton, actor Adrian Lester and sports reporter Hayley McQueen.

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Senior Genetic Genealogist at Ancestry: Laura House, MSc.

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Biscuit Jim

Executive producers: Kellie Redmond, Geoff Jein

#telegraph #ancestryuk #ancestrydna #familyhistory #familyhistoryresearch #dna #partnerships #podcast #alexjones #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Sally Phillips unravels a mystery family adoption

Season 1 · Episode 1

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 • Duration 39:57

In this debut episode, much-loved British comedian Sally Phillips sits down with Alex Jones to unpack the answers to the questions she has about her family story, especially the life of her maternal grandmother, May Wheeldon. “We found out at her funeral that she was adopted, and we didn’t know that,” Sally says. Was this really a traumatic part of May’s life that no one had known anything about, or was it just speculation and assumption? Sally explores these unanswered questions with Alex and Laura House, Ancestry’s senior genetic genealogist and family research expert.

To see the video of Sally’s grandmother May Wheeldon watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lqsZRhKp-CQ?si=yrdWaoWVnXr9x2Sm

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Senior Genetic Genealogist at Ancestry: Laura House, MSc.

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate, Alex Kelly

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Biscuit Jim

Executive producers: Kellie Redmond, Geoff Jein

#telegraph #sallyphillips #ancestryuk #ancestrydna #familyhistory #familyhistoryresearch #dna #partnerships #podcast #alexjones #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Clive Anderson discovers a surprising story about his family tree

Season 1 · Episode 2

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 • Duration 34:46

Ever wondered if your family rumours are actually true? In this episode of Questions & Ancestors, host Alex Jones sits down with legendary comedian and former barrister Clive Anderson to swap courtroom wits for some serious family drama.

Guided by Ancestry genealogist Laura House, a surprising DNA test completely rewrites Clive’s maternal history, uncovering a 19th-century court scandal, severe poverty, and a secret romance with a local baker that changes everything he thought he knew.

Plus, stick around until the end when host Alex Jones jumps into the hot seat to investigate her own family legend: is she actually related to the Mayor of Paris, or has a century-old game of telephone twisted the truth?

To see Clive’s great-great-grandmother’s Parish Marriage Register Certificate, watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MgeQU-z6mhk?si=I0WZ1t8BbFdaKwSH

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Senior Genetic Genealogist at Ancestry: Laura House, MSc.

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Biscuit Jim

Victoria Pendleton: the Olympic hero discovers resilience deep in her family history

Season 1 · Episode 3

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 30:56

Famous faces discover their roots with Questions and Ancestors from Ancestry! In this episode, host Alex Jones is joined by double Olympic gold medalist Victoria Pendleton and senior genetic genealogist Laura House, to uncover the secrets hidden within Victoria’s family tree. Despite expecting nothing out of the ordinary, Victoria discovers an extraordinary story of resilience in her great-great-grandfather, Trevor Bannister. Born to an unmarried mother and raised with an abusive stepfather, Trevor defiantly reclaimed his maternal identity and channeled his childhood hardships into a life of profound kindness — raising his wife’s orphaned sister and spending his later years helping other orphans. Reframing her own drive and determination through the inspiring legacy of her ancestors, Victoria also shares insights from her new book, The Fear Opportunity.

To see Victoria’s childhood drawing she made of her ambitions (aged 11), watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/btzrgTlBhDw?si=tcps9mYxgK7qh1KW

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Senior Genetic Genealogist at Ancestry: Laura House, MSc.

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Adrian Lester: a genetic journey to long lost African origins

Season 1 · Episode 4

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 • Duration 37:15

In the latest episode of Questions & Ancestors host Alex Jones sits down with multi-award-winning actor and director Adrian Lester to explore his Caribbean heritage and family links to Jamaica. Adrian shares his motivation to find out where his family was taken from during the transatlantic slave trade, noting that for many, "history stops at the point where people were trafficked". There are centuries of family history that are likely to remain a mystery.

Guided by Ancestry’s senior genetic genealogist, Laura House, an AncestryDNA analysis traces Adrian's bloodline back to specific countries in Africa and connects him to thousands of living relatives, providing a springboard to search for more answers. Don’t miss the moment Adrian sees how a "jigsaw piece fits in" and his assumptions about his origins are shifted.

To see Adrian’s DNA Origins results revealed, watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aVSNRmQaMAQ?si=IPLad7voCT_bUEbV

Plus, in this episode, Alex Jones explores her own genetic origins — is she really as Welsh as she believes?

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Senior Genetic Genealogist at Ancestry: Laura House, MSc.

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Hayley McQueen uncovers a pivotal decision in her family of footballers past

Season 1 · Episode 5

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 41:38

In the latest episode of Questions & Ancestors, host Alex Jones sits down with renowned sports broadcaster Hayley McQueen to delve into her family roots and dig into her Celtic heritage. From a family of footballers, including her father, legendary Scottish international Gordon McQueen, Hayley shares her long-standing curiosity about rumoured connections to Ireland and speculation about Viking ancestry - but is any of it true?

Guided by Ancestry’s senior genetic genealogist, Laura House, Hayley’s story is pieced together through historic records, birth and death certificates, and AncestryDNA analysis. The investigation uncovers a pivotal migration story, moving newspaper articles and a proud heritage. Don’t miss how a "wild card" name search may have finally revealed the truth about her family’s Irish past.

To see the newspaper article featuring Hayley’s grandmother Mildred McQueen, watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QwCyriTlwtY?si=ThR7pN7fK5l6Fmjg

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Senior Genetic Genealogist at Ancestry: Laura House, MSc.

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Alan Davies uncovers a war hero in his family’s past

Season 1 · Episode 6

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Duration 40:41

In the final episode of Questions & Ancestors, host Alex Jones sits down with actor and comedian Alan Davies to delve into his family history. From the challenges of his early childhood to his curiosity about the origin of the "Davies" name, Alan explores his roots to uncover the truth behind family lore, including the rumour of a relative who was a one-legged Canadian "Mountie".

Guided by Ancestry’s senior genetic genealogist, Laura House, Alan’s family tree is pieced together using census records and military archives. The investigation uncovers the true story of his great uncle, Roger Peachey, separating the fact from the fiction about his remarkable life, and incredible bravery during the First World War. Don’t miss this intimate conversation as Alan finally discovers the war hero in his own family history.

Click here to read more about the whole series of Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/ancestry-podcast/

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones is brought to you by Ancestry and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Alex Jones

Senior Genetic Genealogist at Ancestry: Laura House, MSc.

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Tom Gadd, Andrea Paterson, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Biscuit Jim

Executive producers: Kellie Redmond, Geoff Jein

#telegraph #alandavies #ancestryuk #ancestrydna #familyhistory #familyhistoryresearch #dna #partnerships #podcast #alexjones #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

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Questions & Ancestors with Alex Jones – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other1

Youtube5

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other1

Youtube5

Apple Podcasts

Spotify