Alan on BBC family tree show

Alan Carr has discovered some of his ancestors died in a pit disaster, as he filmed his episode of Who Do You Thinkk You Are?

Two of the comedian’s great-grandfathers and nine other relatives died in a blast at Burradon mine, North Tyneside, in 1860. The total death toll was 76.

He visited the region for the for BBC One show, to talk to locals about the mining heritage. The Burradon Forum wrote on their website: ‘Alan was an extremely kind and considerate, and his approachable manner was appreciated by all [he] met and his abundance of charisma endeared him to all.’

The hour-long show also explores the Carr family’s links to football. Alan’s dad Graham, who is from the North East, is chief scout at Newcastle United and a former manager of Northampton Town.

A BBC spokeswoman added there was ‘a mysterious name change on his mother’s side of the family’ which, after further research, ‘exposes a previously hidden chapter of social history’.

Last month, the show’s executive producer Tom McDonald said: ‘Alan Carr brings a fantastic sense of fun to his episode - even when there's bad news, he just keeps laughing.’

The series is currently airing on BBC One on Wednesdays, although the transmission date of Carr’s episode has not yet been announced.

Published: 4 Sep 2011