Paddy McGuinness makes extraordinary discovery about his name in family history-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

The TV presenter is in for a huge surprise (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Paddy McGuinness is set to make a mind-boggling discovery about his name when he delves into his family history.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of one of the BBC’s most beloved and fascinating shows, Who Do You Think You Are?

For two decades, the programme has enlightened viewers about just how brilliantly intriguing genealogy can be.

Stars including acting legend Dame Judi Dench, EastEnders’ Danny Dyer and Oscar winner Kate Winslet have taken part in the past to learn more about their ancestry, with episodes ranging from awe-inspiring to tear-jerking.

In the upcoming new series, Paddy will be joining famous figures including Melanie Chisholm, Olly Murs, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Vicky McClure, Gemma Collins and Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill as they all learn more about where they came from.

As for the Top Gear and Take Me Out star, he’ll find out something about his identity that’ll come as a huge shock.

Paddy recently took part in Soccer Aid 2024, winning with his England team (Picture: John Walton/PA Wire)

He also presented Top Gear alongside Chris Harris (left) (Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

It turns out that the 50-year-old will discover he came close to not being a McGuinness at all.

According to the website House of Names, the original Gaelic form of McGuinness is Mag Aonghusa or Mag Aonghuis, which mean ‘son of Angus’.

The other celebrities in the line-up are also in for some big surprises.

Singer Olly will find out that he’s not the only performer in his family, as some of his ancestors were actually involved in the circus,

Mel C will learn about a political activist in her family, while former Strictly Come Dancing star Rose will be told about something that happened in her family that strangely had parallels with an episode of the soap she starred in, EastEnders.

Former The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma will meet a member of her family who she didn’t know existed, while Olympic legend Dame Jessica will hear all about a relative of hers in Jamaica who was a slave, and went on to own their own land.

A brand new series of Who Do You Think You Are? is just around the corner (Picture: BBC/Wall to Wall)

Reality TV legend Gemma Collins will also be in the cast (Picture: Lia Toby/Getty Images)

Speaking of the new series, BBC’s head of history Simon Young said: ‘This year we have a stellar line up to mark 20 years of the nation’s favourite social history series.

‘Time and again it proves the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction, while helping us all to understand the history of Britain and the world much better, so it’s clear why our audiences have taken this series to their hearts.

‘I’m so grateful to all the celebrities who have shared their family histories, and to the incredible production team that pulls it all together.’

Who Do You Think You Are? will return on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this summer.

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