John Bishop and Hugh Bonneville explore Irish ancestry in new show

Actor Hugh Bonneville and comedian John Bishop were shocked to discover the connection between their Irish ancestors on ITV’s DNA Journey.

The celebrities, who became fast friends after meeting at a vaccination centre during lockdown, recently joined the fourth series of the program to unearth their family histories.

Downton Abbey star Bonneville wanted to uncover the history behind his family name–previously Bonniwell, but turned to Bonneville as he pursued stardom. With the help of the show's hosts, Bonneville discovered a strong familial history in Dublin, where it is revealed that his ancestor was a journeyman baker.

Bishop joined the program to learn about his Irish heritage, which he admittedly knew little about. The show helped him discover an ancestor who made the journey from Ireland to Liverpool, the city where the comedian himself is from. Bishop was also able to find a three times removed great-grandfather who was a lifetime trade unionist in Dublin.

Not quite separated at birth but more closely connected than we could ever have imagined. Watch @JohnBishop100 and my #DNAJourney on Tuesday 7th March at 9pm on @ITV 1 and @ITVX. pic.twitter.com/miNdwGnnwe

— Hugh Bonneville 🇺🇦 (@hughbon) February 28, 2023

The performers then made the thrilling discovery that their relatives at one point worked only four doors apart. According to the program, they marched together in support of workers rights in the 1840s.

"I thought it was a coincidence that you were at the vaccine centre," John said to Hugh. "To find out that generations before, our ancestors were working within 30 yards of each other... then to discover they were on a march together on the same day that started the path for discussions for Irish independence... staggering."

"That is quite spooky," Hugh responded. "It's the sliding doors of fate and time."

"Not quite separated at birth but more closely connected than we could ever have imagined," tweeted Bonneville.

Bonneville and Hugh's episode of DNA Journey comes out Tuesday, March 7th at 9pm.