My Grandparents' War

Synopsis

In this four-part documentary series, leading Hollywood actors undertake a fascinating journey into their family's past by re-tracing the footsteps of their grandparents during World War Two. We follow the moving, personal stories of Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Carey Mulligan as they travel to historic locations, from the beaches of Dunkirk to prisoner of war camps in Asia, to learn about the war their grandparents experienced. All of the actors have unanswered questions about the scars war left on their grandparents, and in each episode one of the actors explore how six years changed the lives of their family and the world forever while learning about the life and death decisions that their grandparents faced.

First Air Date: 2019-11-27

Last Air Date: 2022-10-06

Number of Seasons: 2

Number of Episodes: 8

Networks: Channel 4

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Helena Bonham Carter as Self
Mark Rylance as Self
Kristin Scott Thomas as Self
Carey Mulligan as Self
Kit Harington as Self
Keira Knightley as Self
Emeli Sandé as Self
Toby Jones as Self

Seasons

Season 1 (2019)

Follow the moving, personal stories of Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Carey Mulligan as they travel to historic locations to learn about what their grandparents experienced during World War Two. In each episode one of the actors explore how six years changed the lives of their family and the world forever while learning about the life and death decisions that their grandparents faced.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Helena Bonham Carter (2019-11-27)

Helena Bonham Carter relates how her grandfather defied orders by helping Jewish people escape the Holocaust, while her grandmother volunteered as an air raid warden and campaigned for women's rights
Ep. 2: Mark Rylance (2019-12-04)

Actor and peace campaigner Mark Rylance explores the extraordinary World War II story of his grandfather Osmond Skinner, who spent almost four years as a Japanese prisoner of war
Ep. 3: Kristin Scott Thomas (2019-12-11)

Actor Kristin Scott Thomas uncovers the story of how her grandfather William saved thousands of lives at Dunkirk while serving as a commanding officer in the Royal Navy throughout World War
Ep. 4: Carey Mulligan (2019-12-18)

Actor Carey Mulligan explores how her grandfather traveled thousands of miles to fight the Japanese in the final months of World War II, and lost his closest friends from a kamikaze attack at sea