

Who Do You Think You Are?
2008 · SBS · 60 min · 17 seasons
S17E08 · Matt Day
Tue, 30 June, 7:30 pm
Actor Matt Day sets out to better understand his late maternal grandfather, Phillip Hillis, who served in WWII, and unearth a family story shrouded in mystery.
About
Well-known Australians play detective as they go in search of their family history, revealing secrets from the past. Taking us to all corners of Australia and the globe are six stories of individuals seeking to find the definitive answer to where they came from. Along the way secrets are uncovered and histories are revealed—from adultery and madness to children born out of wedlock and even the whiff of a right royal scandal—with each individual discovering that their ancestors form an integral part of not only their own identity, but that of the nation. Combining emotional and personal journeys with big-picture history, these inspiring and sometimes challenging stories remind us how Australians have come to be the people that we are today. Considering Australia's multicultural background, this is a global story, with each celebrity tracing their ancestors around the world...
Episodes
- E01
Bruce McAvaney
Tue, 12 May· 60 minIn an emotional opening episode, legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney traces his family's history in South Australia, uncovering stories of early settlement, land ownership and personal tragedy. Walking the land once owned by his ancestors, Bruce is visibly moved as he connects more deeply to his late parents, reflecting on both the successes and hardships that shaped his family's legacy.
- E02
Guy Sebastian
Tue, 19 May· 60 minRenowned singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian travels across India and Sri Lanka to uncover the truth behind his mother's heritage and reconnect with his father's Tamil roots, with a defining moment coming through DNA results that finally bring clarity to his family's identity.
- E03
Essie Davis
Tue, 26 May· 60 minAcclaimed stage and screen actor Essie Davis, best known for her role in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, uncovers a complex family history marked by secrecy and social stigma, including the revelation that her grandmother adopted her own grandchildren to protect a family secret, reshaping her understanding of her father's past.
- E04
Aaron Pedersen
Tue, 2 June· 60 minAlso airing on SBS On Demand during National Reconciliation Week is a special episode of the new series of Who Do You Think You Are , where actor Aaron Pedersen take his brother Vinnie on a life-changing journey to explore their maternal ancestry and Arabana roots in outback South Australia before embarking on a global search for the father he's never known.
- E05
Chrissie Swan
Tue, 9 June· 60 minTelevision and radio host Chrissie Swan is curious to know if her own feisty character can be traced back in her family tree.
- E06
Curtis Stone
Tue, 16 June· 60 minDriven by curiosity and a longing to understand his roots, celebrity chef Curtis Stone sets out to solve two mysteries that have intrigued his family for generations.
- E07
Rosie Batty
Tue, 23 June· 60 minReturning to her homeland, domestic-family-violence campaigner and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty uncovers British battlers, class barriers and a brilliant champion.
- E08
Matt Day
Tue, 30 June· 60 minActor Matt Day sets out to better understand his late maternal grandfather, Phillip Hillis, who served in WWII, and unearth a family story shrouded in mystery.
Cast
Richard Mellick
Narrator







