TV star Sophie Raworth's Doncaster connections to feature in tonight's Who Do You Think You Are?

The Doncaster family connections of TV presenter and newsreader Sophie Raworth are set to come under the spotlight in BBC family history show Who Do You Think You Are tonight.
Sophie Raworth's Cusworth Hall connections feature in Who Do You Think You Are? tonight.Sophie Raworth's Cusworth Hall connections feature in Who Do You Think You Are? tonight.
Sophie Raworth's Cusworth Hall connections feature in Who Do You Think You Are? tonight.

The BBC presenter and journalist will be seen visiting Doncaster's Cusworth Hall as part of her voyage to discover her ancestors in the BBC1 show which will be screened at 8pm.

A spokesman for Cusworth Hall was tight-lipped about the exact discoveries revealed in the show and said: "All we know is that one of her ancestors supplied the Cusworth estate with produce in the eighteenth century, so we are as excited as anyone to see the finished film, and to see what Sophie thinks about her connection with Cusworth."

TV host Sophie Raworth.TV host Sophie Raworth.
TV host Sophie Raworth.
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During the show, the 48-year-old TV host discovers that instead of being descended from famous piano maker Henry Robert Mott, who played for King George IV in the late 18th century, Sophie’s great-great-great-great grandfather was actually Samuel Mott, who was sacked from the family piano business.

In the final episode of the latest series she says: “I came [on the show] thinking I was related to Isaac Mott – the piano maker who made pianos for the king. I discover I’m directly related to his cousin who was a ‘mule of a chap’. It’s not quite the same is it?”

She discovers Birmingham-born Samuel lived through the Priestly Riots in 1791 and lost his parents to yellow fever after they moved to America, in search of a new life.

Aged 11 he was separated from his siblings and sent to live with a bankrupt guardian, which lead to a life of hardship, leading to suicide.

Cusworth HallCusworth Hall
Cusworth Hall
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Shocked Sophie, who has three children of her own, is devastated hearing about the struggle, but still feels pride for her ancestors.

She adds: “I have been enchanted by the Motts. Like hands reaching out from the past, they really came alive. There’s a spirit in the Motts that I can still see filtering through my family now. I’m in awe of what they did, and I’m very proud to be one of their descendants."

The news anchor, Watchdog and Crimewatch presenter, made her TV breakthrough in Yorkshire, appearing as the regular joint presenter of Look North from Leeds before hitting the national spotlight with a presenting stint on BBC Breakfast.