...as do Warwick Davis and Ricky Tomlinson

Greg Davies’s family tree is to be explored in the next series of Who Do You Think You Are?

The comedian is one of ten celebrities to feature in the 13th series, which has just been announced for this autumn.

They also include comic actors Warwick Davis and Ricky Tomlinson and reality show judges Amanda Holden and Cheryl.

Davies’s eccentric father was the basis for much of his early stand-up material, and inspired Rik Mayall’s character in his Channel 4 sitcom Man Down. The comic was devastated in 2014 when both died within the space of two months.

Davies was born in St Asaph, Denbighshire, in May 1968. His parents lived in England at the time, but his Welsh father drove his mother Pauline across the border to make sure he was born in Wales.

The other celebrities taking part in Who Do You Think You Are? are Danny Dyer, Sir Ian McKellen, Sophie Raworth, Liz Bonnin and Sunetra Sarker.

BBC commissioner Tom McDonald said: ‘Who Do You Think You Are? continues to be one of the annual factual highlights on BBC One. This year’s series spans centuries of history and crosses continents to unearth extraordinary genealogical revelations for some of the UK’s most beloved actors, performers and presenters.’

Executive producer Colette Flight, from production company Wall To Wall, added: ‘As we follow our celebrities on their personal journey into their family trees, an extraordinary range of incredible stories are revealed, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always compelling.’

• Man Down returns to Channel 4 for its thrid series tonight.

Published: 13 Jul 2016