A note to readers in other countries: ITV is a British television network.

NI actor Jimmy Nesbitt is set to explore his ancestry in an ITV series. DNA Journey with Ancestry is returning with six new celebrity pairings.

The celebrity duos delving into their families’ histories this series are Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston, Jo Brand and Julian Clary, Fay Ripley and Hermione Norris, Sam Thompson and Marvin Humes, Sarah Parish and Jimmy Nesbitt, and John Simm and Philip Glenister.

A statement added: "In this fifth series produced by Voltage TV, Mitre Studios and Ancestry, the new celebrity twosomes set off in pursuit of where they come from and unearth secrets from their past in a life-changing and emotional voyage of discovery that takes us from Canada to London and France to Jamaica.

"Using advanced DNA technology and genealogy, the duos will unlock hidden secrets from their family trees as they discover amazing revelations about their descendants, fascinating stories of unknown ancestors and meetings with no living relatives that spark deep connections to the past and present."