THE Chase’s Anne Hegerty discovered she’s a descendant of royalty in a new episode of ITV’s DNA Journey.
The Governess, 63, and her quizzing co-star Shaun Wallace, 61, delved into the respective family trees in the opening episode of the new series.
And like EastEnders’ Danny Dyer before her, who found out he was related to a king while appearing on the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?, she too found out she had royal connections.
An ITV source told the Mirror: “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.”
Dark Destroyer Shaun said Anne was already known as Queen Anne behind the scenes of The Chase thanks to her quizzing prowess, and now he joked he and his fellow chasers were going to have to curtsy and bow to her.
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Anne also learned her great-grandmother’s first cousin was a deputy chief engineer on an ocean liner during World War One and survived two German torpedo attacks.
When Danny Dyer took part in Who Do You Think You Are? in 2016 he discovered that he is the Great Grandson times 22 of King Edward III.
The actor, who grew up in Canning Town, east London, told Radio Times magazine that he was especially pleased by another connection to Thomas Cromwell, who was born to a tavern owner in Putney, served as chief minister to King Henry VIII and helped orchestrate the downfall of Ann Boleyn before he was executed for treason in 1540.
Danny said: “[Cromwell] came from a slum, I come from a slum. Cromwell left the country at 14, I started acting at 14. He was a self-taught lawyer. I’m a self-taught actor.
“Cromwell had two daughters and a son. I’ve got two daughters and a son. Cromwell wrote his last letter to Henry VIII begging for his life, on July 24, which is my birthday… And I drink in the Anne Boleyn pub.”
