Daisy May and Charlie discover their family history

Daisy May and Charlie Cooper have been told they are descended from 18th Century highwayman Dick Turpin.

In Sunday’s episode of their  BBC Two ghost-hunting series NightWatch, the siblings behind This Country were told their 12-times great-grandfather was the legendary robber.

The link was revealed as the pair stayed in an apparently haunted coaching inn – when  Charlie remembered a family story about them being related to a highway robber.

So he texts their aunt who replied with the news. 

Reading her message he says: ’Yes we do have a highwayman in the family. The Cracknells - which is mum’s maiden name - originated in Essex around a village called Finchingfield which is the same village as the Turpin family. They were basically country Bumpkins and farmhands

‘Dick Turpin is your 12th great-grandfather. Line comes through Louisa Stock who married Joseph Cracknell.’

Charlie excitedly responds: ‘We’re a family of robbers and convicts! I knew it! Dick Turpin! Course! Renegade! It just ticks every box.’

To which Daisy May replies: ‘Everything makes sense! That is brilliant.’

Charlie adds: ‘What I’m going to do is get a tricorn hat get a cloak going to start robbing people on the road. I’m obviously born to do it.’

Whether the links is born out by evidence or is simply a family legend remains to be seen as the programme ends on that revelation. Maybe the Coopers need to do Who Do You Think You Are?

Published: 31 Oct 2025