It’s a cold and rainy (or blazing hot!) afternoon and you’d like nothing more than to grab that TV remote and watch something binge worthy. Well, how about checking out a family history show?
Since advances in DNA analysis have renewed people’s interest in “finding their roots,” numerous television shows that focus on genealogy have come and gone. To help you locate a favorite, here’s a guide to the family history shows that are still available through free streaming services, subscription-based services, or good old network television.
8 Of Our Favorite Genealogy Shows of All Time
Many of these shows can be watched for free. For those available through free streaming services, you may not be able to access all seasons, but sometimes you can locate a single episode through a free source so you can determine if you want to pay for more episodes or not.
A few shows are only available through a paid subscription service. Whether or not a show is free or paid is marked by the title of each show.
Current Family History Shows
1. Who Do You Think You Are?
(UK version) (limited episodes free, full seasons paid)
Produced: 2004 to the present
Number of seasons: 20
Original network: BBC
Available to watch on: Limited episodes available free on YouTube. Paid sources – BBC One, Apple TV, Discovery +, Bravo Now, E! Now, NBC.com, Syfy Now, Telemundo Now.
This British production is one of the longest running genealogy shows on television today, and one of the most engaging to watch. The show offers British celebrities a detailed and often emotional look at their family history, usually focusing on one or two ancestors with interesting stories.
The history and culture surrounding these stories is included, utilizing local museums, history experts, and researchers. This show has been so popular that international versions have been produced in 18 countries, including the United States version listed later in this article.
2. Finding Your Roots
(free and paid options)
Produced: 2012 to the present
Number of seasons: 10
Original network: PBS
Available to watch on: Free sources – PBS network television, Pluto TV, Roku Channel. Paid sources – PBS Video. Buy individual episodes on Apple TV, Prime Video, or YouTube.
This popular PBS series adds a bit of class to the show’s premise of celebrities searching for their family history. The show’s host, Henry Louis Gates Jr., has had a long career as a university professor of literature and history. He has written numerous books and produced many television shows on the topic of African American history and culture.
While Gates focuses on interesting characters and stories from each celebrity’s family tree, he also interjects side spots on the genealogy research process that are useful to any researcher.
3. Relative Race
(free and paid options)
Produced: 2016 to the present
Number of seasons: 13
Original network: BYU TV
Available to watch on: Free sources – BYU TV. Paid sources – Sling TV, DirecTV Stream
This fun show produced by Brigham Young University Broadcasting merges family history with an Amazing Race style format. On each episode, four teams compete by partaking in a 10-day road trip to see who can find their long-lost relatives the fastest. While the winners of the race are awarded a prize of $50,000, all teams win in that they solve family mysteries during the course of the race.
4. Long Lost Family
(UK version) (free and paid options)
Produced: 2011 to the present
Number of seasons: 14
Original network: ITV
Available to watch on: Free sources – Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Plex. Paid sources – Prime Video. Individual episodes may be purchased from Apple TV or Google Play.
Another long running British produced show, Long Lost Family focuses on stories of separation between family members for a variety of circumstances. The show uses historical research, public records, and DNA analysis to reunite long lost family members who were separated for many reasons, including abandonment, adoptions, unknown birth fathers, and other separations.
Often a tear-jerker, this show is great to watch if you are in the mood for a good cry.
Family History Shows No Longer in Production
5. Who Do You Think You Are?
(US versions) (paid)
Produced: 2010 to 2018, 2022
Number of seasons: 10 complete and 1 partial
Original network: NBC 2010 to 2012, 2022; TLC 2013 to 2018
Available to watch on: Paid sources – NBC.com, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Discovery+, Philo. Individual episodes may be purchased from YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.
The US version of the popular Who Do You Think You Are UK version referenced above, this show took the UK format and applied it to American celebrities. Each show portrayed one celebrity seeking to solve mysteries about their past and their family’s history.
As with the UK show, each celebrity consulted with genealogy researchers and historical experts, and traveled to the sites where their ancestors came from, revealing enlightening and often emotional facts about the celebrity’s ancestors.
6. Genealogy Roadshow
(free and paid options)
Produced: 2013 to 2016
Number of seasons: 3
Original network: PBS
Available to watch on: Free sources – Tubi, Roku Channel. Paid sources – PBS Video. Individual episodes may be purchased from Apple TV, YouTube, Prime Video.
Genealogy Roadshow takes the popular format of Antiques Roadshow and applies it to family history research. Professional genealogists travel to a new city every episode, armed with databases of genealogical records. People wait in line to talk to the pros and ask their questions about their family histories. The show spotlights several of the most interesting stories revealed by the research completed during the episode.
7. The Generations Project
(free)
Produced: 2010 to 2012
Number of seasons: 3
Original network: BYU TV
Available to watch on: Free sources – BYU TV.
Each episode of The Generations Project focuses on an individual who has questions about their family history. The show follows each person as they engage in a journey to search the genealogical records to help answer those questions.
The show ends with each person processing what they have learned and how that has changed their own perception of their family. The Genealogy Project is engaging and incorporates snippets of actual genealogical research from experts and family members.
8. Long Lost Family
(US version) (free and paid options)
Produced: 2016 to 2019
Number of seasons: 6
Original network: TLC
Available to watch on: Free sources – Roku Channel, Tubi. Paid sources – PBS Video. Individual episodes may be purchased from Apple TV or Prime Video.
This American version of the British TV show of the same name also focuses on reuniting relatives separated by difficult circumstances. The show’s hosts assist each family as they search for each other using hints from family stories, interviews with known relatives, public records, and so on.
As with the UK version, this show will make you cry every time, so keep the tissues handy!
It is important to remember that much of the research and preparation for these shows happened behind the scenes and only portions are shown, so if you are new to genealogy, don’t get the impression that it only takes a few minutes to find exciting information about your ancestors. But if you want an entertaining way to find out about genealogy, or if you are a genealogy addict like myself and just want to watch a good family history story, check out these shows today!
By Janet Meydam. Janet is a freelance writer who has over 40 years of experience in genealogy research. Her knowledge includes researching many different records from the United States, Germany and Poland.