Episodes

Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter relates how her grandfather defied orders by helping Jewish people escape the Holocaust, while her grandmother volunteered as an air raid warden and campaigned for women's rights

47m

Episode 2

Mark Rylance

Actor and peace campaigner Mark Rylance explores the extraordinary World War II story of his grandfather Osmond Skinner, who spent almost four years as a Japanese prisoner of war

47m

Episode 3

Kristin Scott Thomas

Actor Kristin Scott Thomas uncovers the story of how her grandfather William saved thousands of lives at Dunkirk while serving as a commanding officer in the Royal Navy throughout World War

47m

Episode 4

Carey Mulligan

Actor Carey Mulligan explores how her grandfather traveled thousands of miles to fight the Japanese in the final months of World War II, and lost his closest friends from a kamikaze attack at sea

47m

Episode 1

Kit Harington

The star of Game of Thrones explores his grandparents' extraordinary wartime experiences - from spying on a former King of England to a deadly Italian mission that earned a military cross

47m

Episode 2

Keira Knightley

Actress Keira Knightley unearths a deeply moving story of resilience and love concerning her grandparents, Mac and Jan MacDonald. Mac was a sonar operator with the Royal Navy and Keira discovers how he and the crew of HMS Wolverine rescued hundreds of Irish Guards from a sinking ship in under 20 minutes. She also reveals how millions of women, including her grandmother Jan, volunteered to bolster Britain's war effort. Keira tries to comprehend how both her grandparents coped with the news that their younger brothers were reported missing in action

47m

Episode 3

Emeli Sandé

Award-winning musician Emeli Sandé explores her grandparents' remarkable war stories which span World War II, the Mau Mau insurgency in Kenya, and the fight for independence in Zambia

47m

Episode 4

Toby Jones

Hollywood star Toby Jones delves into the remarkable WWII stories of his grandparents Reggie and Doreen Heslewood, whose love endured despite the trauma and hardship they faced.