Season 9

Veteran performer, Noni Hazlehurst, goes in search of the secrets her parents held so tightly. This journey will be a revelation to Noni. She’ll come to understand the impact of war on her immediate family, and why she knows so little about her world-renowned performing ancestors.

Having always struggled to understand culturally who he is, renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo is looking for answers. Exploring his mother’s side of the family, Charlie’s journey will take him to Malacca, where he discovers a culture he’s never heard of, but one with which he can now clearly identify. On his father’s side, Charlie comes face to face with his paternal ancestors. Will he be able to mend his connection with this side of his family and finally be proud of his Teo heritage?

Natalie Imbruglia has always taken pride in her father’s Italian ancestry, but she knows very little regarding her mother’s Australian heritage. Although family folklore points to strong-willed and independent women on this side of the family, Natalie wants to know more about these women and their stories. This journey will allow Natalie to finally connect with her Australian ancestry dating all the way back to the beginnings of the colony.

From his portrayal of bushranger Ned Kelly to the sinister Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek, actor John Jarratt has carved a career out of playing quintessential Aussie characters. But while John wears his working class roots with pride, traces of a Chinese heritage on his mum’s side, has always been a mystery. John first throws himself into his search for his Chinese origins before investigating the epic life story of his war hero ancestor.

Actor and performer, Justine Clarke, was raised almost entirely by her mother Beverley after her parents separated when she was just nine months old. Justine’s quest to learn about her father’s family will take her back to colonial times where she’ll learn about the unlikely life of one of her ancestors and the Irish rebel she fell in love with. On her maternal side, Justine will return to her grandfather’s hometown in Belarus and discover why her grandfather fled his homeland and travelled to Australia. And, in a surprise meeting in Moscow, Justine will meet a long lost relative and reconnect a family separated for a century.

Perth born entertainer and performer Todd McKenney is keen to know where the McKenney name comes from and is on a quest to uncover traits passed down to him by his father’s forebears. On his maternal side, there is no doubt that Todd gets his dancing talent from his mother, Peta and his maternal grandmother. However, Todd is keen to discover an ancestor with a colourful past. Will Todd find what he’s looking for?

All his life, Ernie Dingo has been estranged from his father’s family, on account of feeling abandoned by his own father, Tom Pepper. Ernie is brought face to face with his father’s ancestors, including an English convict. Will his journey force Ernie to re-evaluate his perceptions about the past - and his relationships in the present? Meanwhile, Ernie’s relationship with his mother’s side of the family, has been completely different: he grew up wrapped in love and warmth from his mother Bessie and grandmother Ulie. But his grandfather Jimmy Dingo remained a mystery, and Ernie sets out to discover more about this enigmatic character.

Patti Newton is one of Australia’s most recognisable faces. She’s been performing since the age of four and has always wondered where her love of performing has come from. These days Patti’s greatest joy in life is her four grandchildren. However, she knows very little regarding her paternal grandmother and is determined to find out why she was never spoken of.