Danny Dyer has shared some major secrets about the process celebrities go through before appearing on Who Do You Think You Are?
The former EastEnders star, 45, reveals how one would-be star was left fuming when the show's producers "came back shaking" and told them they wouldn't be featuring their family after doing some preliminary research.
Dad-of-three Danny was shocked to discover he's descended from Edward III in one of the most memorable episodes of the BBC series, which takes stars and famous faces on a journey as they learn about their ancestors.
Danny's family tree went under the spotlight during the show's 13th series in 2016, with the Football Factory actor now revealing exactly how much he was paid to find out more about where he comes from.
The actor - who recently opened up about a stay in psychiatric unit - says his time on the genealogy show was an interesting process when chatting about his family history in a new interview.
"Mad, weren’t it?" Danny begins when looking back on his 2016 episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
"It’s an interesting process. They come to you. It’s a job, right? Eighteen grand. That’s a result, as you also get to find out a bit about your family. You tell them what you know, which wasn’t much, then they f*** off and you don’t hear nothing for five months."
"Then they come back and they might say we’re not going with this one. I know that happened to Ray Winstone and he was fuming. But they came back shaking. There was an energy…"
Chatting to The Times, Danny then confessed he has no desire to ever use his royal heritage and make a bid for the throne one day.
Asked if at night, instead of sheep, does he count how many people you’d have to kill to become king, Danny replied: "Nah, nah, nah. Wouldn’t do that job for anybody."
After embarking on a journey through hundreds of years of history during his time on the BBC show, Danny discovered that he is a direct descendant of both Henry VIII’s right-hand man Thomas Cromwell and every English king from Edward III right back to William the Conqueror.
The former soap star was visibly overwhelmed by emotion as it sunk in that he had a legitimate claim to the throne.
Standing in front of King Edward III’s tomb in Westminster Abbey, the Human Traffic actor said: "A kid from Canning Town, and this is my bloodline? It doesn’t feel real.
"To think that somebody of my stature, somebody from absolutely nothing – and his blood is my blood. I cannot compute it in my brain that this man is related to me, this wonderful powerful man.
"People are going to expect me to be related to criminals," the actor added. "Maybe I am related to some, but I want to freak a few people out and be related to aristocracy."
Danny discusses his working class background and upbringing in his latest interview - admitting he does often feel he is subjected to class hatred but never lets it bother him.
The star says as soon he opens his mouth he's 'judged as thick and poor' and recalls spotting the negative opinions related to his working class upbringing early on his career.
Danny grew up on a council estate in Custom House, one of the most deprived areas of east London, and went on to star in Oscar-winning short Wasp, work with Harold Pinter and become one of the nation's favourite soap stars.
But despite being an accomplished actor and now leading a privileged life, Danny is still subjected to classim - particularly surrounding the names he picked out for the three children he shares with childhood sweetheart Joanne Mas.
When the happy couple welcomed their first child into the world in 1996, Love Island winner Dani Dyer, many scoffed at Danny's choice of moniker for his daughter.
But, as a journalist points out in the star's latest interview, Nigel Lawson has never been mocked and treated as a joke for calling his daughter Nigella.
"I think there is classism," Danny admits to The Times when asked if he thinks he's a victim of class hatred.
"As soon as I open my mouth I’m judged as thick and poor and not articulate. I noticed that early doors, but it hasn’t really bothered me."
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