WHO Do You Think You Are? returns tonight with comedian Josh Widdicombe taking a deep dive into his family’s history.

Series 18 of the hugely popular BBC series begins this evening.

The series will see the likes of Dame Judi Dench, Alex Scott and Pixie Lott explore their ancestral roots.

But first into the fray is comic Josh Widdicombe.

He hears about an ancestor who missed out on a fortune, a courtier who knew all about the King’s toilet habits, as well as some amazing links to Elizabethan and Tudor nobility, who make up just part of his incredible ancestral line.

Josh Widdicombe’s royal links

The show delves into Josh’s family history and reveals that the comedian is related to royalty.

The Last Leg host is actually the 15 times great grandson of King Henry VIII, he revealed on the Channel 4 show.

The Argus:

He also has family links to Edward Longshanks, the King of England from 1272 to 1307.

Joking about his Who Do You Think You Are? discovery on The Last Leg, Josh said: "Dame Judy Dench isn't episode number one...she's not the 15 times great grandson of Henry VIII.

"Bit more respect from you two in the future.

"Next month I'm doing the Royal Variety performance for the first time, I thought I'd been booked as a comedian but I think I'm in the box."

But speaking to Radio Times, Josh said the discovery hadn’t changed him.

He said: “I wouldn’t say it’s changed how I see myself, no.

“It would be mad if I started living a more royal life.

“I think maybe if you’ve learned that you came from a tougher background, it might give you some perspective, but this doesn’t really call for perspective at all.”

Danny Dyer’s Who Do You Think You Are? discovery

Josh isn’t the first celebrity to find out about his royal links on the show.

In 2016, EastEnders star Danny Dyer received the shocking news himself.

The Argus:

The show revealed that the actor is descended from Thomas Cromwell, Edward III, William the Conqueror and Henry III.

At the beginning of the episode, Danny said: “I’d like to find out I’m related to someone in the aristocracy or something. Something different to what I’m known for, that’s what I’d like, to freak a few people out.”

As Danny was given more information about his family’s past, he said: “I’m not really a royalist, none of my family are, but now I feel like I wanna be.”

The episode went on to reveal that Danny was a direct descendant of Henry VIII’s right hand man Thomas Cromwell, the subject of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall books which were recently adapted for a BBC series.

Series 18 of Who Do You Think You Are? begins with Josh Widdicombe tonight on BBC One at 9pm.