The new series of ITV's DNA Journey returns with The Chase's Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace.
The quiz masters will be taking a trip through time to discover their long lost heritage and even meet living relatives they had no idea existed. As the co-stars learn more about themselves, 63-year-old Anne unearths a regal background.
An ITV source said: "Anne was excited and fascinated to learn she has royal relations. It was a big shock to her but a very nice one and she was very interested to delve into the details to find out more about it."
READ MORE: Bradley Walsh 'falls asleep' during episode of The Chase
Friend Shaun has now joked Anne's friends will now have to "bow and curtsy" to her after the royal connection was revealed. He said: "Without spoiling anything, we call her 'Queen Anne', because obviously she's the queen of quizzing, but we have to really bow and curtsy to her now!"
Also in the episode - which airs on Tuesday on ITV - Anne discovers one of her ancestors survived two German torpedo attacks during World War One, and they overcame the sinking of a ship by clinging onto an upturned lifeboat for four hours.
She said: "I discovered my great-grandmother's first cousin was a deputy chief engineer on an ocean liner during World War One and survived two German torpedo attacks. He clung onto an upturned lifeboat for four hours. I came away feeling really impressed by that level of endurance. I also handled the skull of an ancestor. I can't tell you any more, but it was a proud moment."
Anne and Shaun travelled to Jamaica to uncover more about his bloodline and he admitted his fellow The Chase star was concerned some of her ancestors might have "owned" some of Shaun's relatives. Speaking about their trip to the Caribbean, Shaun said: "It was amazing. Without giving anything away, I found out about one relative from the dim and distant past who was very altruistic, and that was a really poignant moment for me.
"It was also the first time Anne had been to Jamaica, and that was great because she was basically coming to my territory and she really embraced it. She loved the food and the culture; it was a special time. Before we went, I think Anne was worried we'd find out that her ancestors used to own my ancestors of something, but, luckily, that wasn't the case."
Shaun was also shocked to discover some of his ancestors had some similar characteristics to him. DNA Journey starts with Anne and Shaun on Tuesday (April 5th) at 9pm on ITV.
The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm on ITV and ITV Hub
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