The search for the heirs to 300,000 pounds gets under way.
The hunters search for a surviving relative of Stephen Podd, who left 195,000 pounds.
The heir hunters search for a family due to inherit 850,000.
Ronald Nightingall left 300,000 pounds and the hunters compete to find a relative.
Valerie Borer left 73,000 pounds, and the hunters compete to find a surviving relative.
Barrie Keith Townsend left 330,000 pounds, and the hunters compete to find a relative.
The search is on for a surviving relative of Hugh Robinson, who left 39,000 pounds.
Henry John Silcocks left 30,000 pounds and the hunters try to find a surviving relative.
Albert Essam left 120,000 pounds, and a man who discovered five siblings he didn't know.
Frank Goodwin left 350,000 pounds and the hunters compete to find a surviving relative.
Leonora Smith left 230,000 pounds and the heir hunters try to find a surviving relative.
Alan John Tew left 70,000 pounds and the heir hunters try to find a surviving relative
Phyllis Broadwick left 200,000 pounds. Plus, the man who gave hot news the cold shoulder.
Geoffrey Penney left 175,000 pounds plus, how illness tore a family apart.
The detectives have to break some tragic news. A pensioner goes on the trip of a lifetime.
The investigation of a 60,000 pound estate pays off for the heir hunters. And the team appeals for help on a case it simply cannot solve.
The heir hunters reunite a fragmented family and find out how a man who left a million pounds narrowly escaped a pauper's funeral.
The heir hunters struggle with a missing clue, and two beneficiaries discover a family link to one of the most shocking events of the 20th century.
The heir hunters look for the beneficiaries of an estate worth 70,000 pounds, and Lady Teviot resolves the mystery of the GI bride.
The heir hunters lose time making wrong decisions on a 200,000-pound investigation, and a new lead re-opens an old case.
It is an emotional time for one lucky lady when she inherits part of a 200,000-pound fortune, and a knock on the door from the heir hunters helps a lonely pensioner to find his long-lost cousin.
A multi-million pound case that has remained unsolved for the past 12 years takes a new turn and a bittersweet inheritance for a man who didn't know his brother had died.
When the heir hunters uncover a family secret, a gravestone reveals some vital clues.
Researching a common surname creates problems and a basic error by one of the team holds up the hunt.
A pensioner who was orphaned in the Blitz meets her relatives for the first time and the heir hunters investigate a case worth over 100,000 pounds.
The Heir Hunters unravel the mystery of man who left home as a teenager and was never heard from again, and a miner whose tough life brought a surprise windfall to his relatives.
The heir hunters investigate the sad story of an illegitimate man and the son he never knew, and a pensioner who worked as an entertainer in the war receives an unexpected inheritance.
A pensioner who was orphaned in the Blitz meets her relatives for the first time, and the Heir Hunters investigate a 75,000 pound estate where a nephew discovers he is entitled to his aunt's money.
The team maps out a family tree that reaches right across the globe and a cousin learns the sad news of her relative's death.
Featuring the sad case of an illegitimate man whose existence was kept a family secret. Also, how the lack of a will meant that one woman's money went to the last person she wanted it to.
The heir hunters examine the case of a homeless man who left behind thousands of pounds but no will, and revisit a family tree they investigated more than 20 years ago.
An unclaimed estate worth 600,000 pounds puts the team in a spin and the families of two brothers separated at birth meet for the first time.
A pair of married cousins receive a double windfall and an heir discovers a relative she never knew she had.
When a Pools winner leaves behind over 200,000 pounds but no will, the heir hunters encounter a hurdle that threatens their work.
Snow threatens to halt an investigation, and an unusual collection of glassware found in a garage boosts the value of an estate.
Spinster Lily Fernandez died alone in Sidcup, her body lying undiscovered for several weeks. As Fraser and Fraser begins hunting for any relations, investigators discover that Lily actually owned not just one, but two properties. It is the first clue in a mystery that will lead the team from an unremarkable Kentish town to the evocative streets of Jamalpur in the Bengal region of India. Closer to home, Cat Whiteaway is researching the case of Queenie Cobb, a born-and-bred Eastender who died in 2001. As Cat tries to bring together the pieces of Queenie's story, the shadow of illegitimacy soon falls over events and just when Cat believes that she has found the rightful heirs, the old lady springs a surprise.
This time around the team investigates an apparently worthless case that takes a surprising twist, and the harrowing tale of a Holocaust victim. Douglas Barber died in 2008 aged just 58. At first sight his case seems ordinary enough, but as the team moves into action, his family history becomes murkier. Every piece of documentation seems to raise more questions. But when his estate is revealed to be worth a hefty 400,000 pounds, the pressure mounts to locate his descendants and find out how he came to be so wealthy. Meanwhile, Derek Rodbard of Heirtrace is attempting to track down the descendants of Holocaust victim Gustaf Kestner. As Derek strives to find the rightful inheritors, he discovers that some of Gustaf's heirs may have escaped war-torn Europe thanks to a remarkable escape network set up by Nicholas Winton, an English stockbroker based in Prague. But how many made it through? And have any survived to finally reclaim Gustaf's estate?
Featuring the case of a man who thought he had no-one to leave his money to, and the story of a high-profile anti-apartheid activist with an unclaimed estate of 250,000 pounds. Brian Gibbs died aged 69 leaving an estate worth 17,000 pounds. Believing he had no relations he hadn't even bothered to write a will. However, as the team at Fraser and Fraser swings into action it pieces together a vast family tree. So why did Brian lose touch with his family? The shocking discovery of a tragic suicide provides a possible explanation. Meanwhile heir hunter Hector Birchwood is investigating the compelling case of Ethel de Keyser. Leaving Lithuania for South Africa in 1926, Ethel became an anti-apartheid activist after the imprisonment of her brother. As Hector delves deeper, his attempt to find anyone entitled to inherit her substantial estate forces him to uncover the brutal world of South Africa's apartheid regime, and the appalling events of the Sharpeville Massacre.
The heir hunters come into contact with one of the biggest killers of the 20th century and discover the fascinating story of a local sporting hero. With minimal resources, Tony Pledger at Fraser and Fraser is looking into the case of Russell Wemyss, an 81-year-old with Scottish origins, who spent most of his life in Tyneside. But as Tony investigates he discovers how a terrible global pandemic had the power to devastate families. David Milchard is on the trail of Brian Lloyd, who died of a heart attack aged just 51. It looks like a good case, and it gets a whole lot more interesting when his unclaimed estate suddenly grows from 80,000 pounds to a potential 250,000 pounds. But will the team strike gold? Or will the Treasury have the last laugh? Meanwhile, Bob Smith is on his dream case. A football fanatic, he's researching the case of Trevor Haydon. With an unclaimed estate of 140,000 pounds, it turns out that Trevor's father was a pro footballer and local superstar in the 1920s. And as Bob hunts high and low for potential heirs, he finds that silky footballing skills run in the family.
In this episode the team tells the tale of a family that stands to lose everything and sheds light on one of the worst shipping disasters of the 20th century. Beryl Evans died in 2008 leaving an unclaimed estate of 100,000 pounds. Born in 1927, she'd lived and worked in the Welsh Borders all her life in a cottage that had been family-owned for centuries. But with no apparent heirs, it looks as if the Inland Revenue will snap up Beryl's estate. As the team at Fraser and Fraser desperately tries to track down any blood relatives, some unexpected family secrets are revealed. Back in 2003, Ernest Pythian died at the grand old age of 94. Born in 1909, he'd been adopted, had married his childhood sweetheart and led a seemingly conventional life. But as the team at Hoopers begins to search for potential heirs, a dramatic tale of emigrants seeking a new beginning on distant shores and of lives tragically lost in a shocking maritime disaster begins to emerge.
Bachelor William Harman died in 2008, leaving behind a considerable estate of 90,000 pounds. But as Fraser and Fraser starts hunting down heirs, a mix-up over birth dates suddenly threatens to derail the entire investigation. With the team forced to play catch up, the trail leads them to South Africa, while closer to home the suggestion that William may have been an abandoned child proves a troubling discovery. Meanwhile, in the heart of Sussex, heir-hunting duo Lord and Lady Teviot are investigating the case of Cecil Higham. Separated from his brother at birth, Cecil served in the army during the Second World War, got married and apparently lived a relatively uneventful life. But as the Lord and Lady dig deeper, an extraordinary story emerges.
Joan Hack died in 2002 in Bangor, North Wales. After her husband's sudden death she became a virtual recluse with no brothers, sisters or children. As Fraser and Fraser do some detective work, the case leads the team through Scotland, Liverpool and even leafy West Sussex. But it soon becomes clear that rivals are ahead of the game. With time running out, can the team think on its feet and make the vital breakthrough that will help win the race? Over in Sheffield, the heir hunters are also on the case of Barbara Thompson, a free-spirited intellectual who spoke seven languages and travelled widely. When investigators discover that she owned property in a fashionable part of Paris, they soon become entangled in the intricacies of French law. And they're also faced with another perplexing question: just why did such a free-spirited traveller decide to return home at the end of her life?
Peter Martin died aged just 52 in Brighton. A bit of a loner, even Peter's neighbour knew very little about him. Racing against competitors, the team at Fraser and Fraser is soon piecing together his family history. But the case proves a tough one to crack and as time begins to run out, the investigators begin to worry that their estimation of the value of Peter's estate may prove to be wildly optimistic. Meanwhile, Hector Birchwood of Celtic Research is delving into the mysterious case of Arthur Aldrick. He died in 2005 aged 85, leaving behind an unclaimed estate worth a hefty 350,000 pounds. A distant heir is discovered, but that's just the beginning of the story. Intrigued, Arthur's heir is soon on the case and as she investigates his wartime record in the intelligence service, it begins to look as if he may have had an important role to play in cracking the Nazi's infamous Enigma code.
Ronald Armer died in 2008. A young man during the swinging 60s, he embraced the freewheeling spirit of the times. In later years he settled down to a quiet existence in the affluent Lake District, where property prices are some of the highest in the UK. Ronald's estate could be worth over 1 million pounds, but finding relations proves a real challenge and Fraser and Fraser soon learn that a rival is already ahead of the game. At the end of her life, the grandly titled Princess Olga von Dembinska lived in the affluent area of Westminster. But her tale proves to be an epic one involving the tragic twists and turns of Polish history, the cataclysmic events of the 19th and 20th century and a desperate attempt to reclaim a lost inheritance. As the Fraser team strives to find any relatives and determine the true size of her estate, will they be able to separate fantasy from reality?
Pearl Knight turns out to be a mystery lady. As documentation proves difficult to find and every avenue of investigation ends up a dead-end, the Fraser's team begins to wonder whether her marriage to Hugh is all it seems to be. Cyril Curtis died aged 80 in Great Yarmouth. A quiet and reclusive man, his life seemed unremarkable. Bus as the Hooper's team set about its work of tracing his heirs, a shadowy family secret is soon unearthed. But how will his descendants respond to the news that they not only stand to inherit a substantial sum of money... but also some unexpected additions to the family circle?
When bachelor Alan Twigg died aged just 68, he left behind a property and savings worth more than £500,000. Finding his heirs proves a real challenge until a vital clue leads the team at Fraser and Fraser into the glamorous world of transatlantic sea voyages and the luxurious liner Queen Elizabeth. But then the last-minute discovery of a secret threatens to scupper all their hard work. When Baron Carl Franz Eduard Von Eudeni died in 1994, he left an estate worth in excess of £200,000 but no family and no clues about his life. Initially, Hoopers' investigation focuses on Austria, but in a wholly unexpected twist it is soon revealed that the 'baron' was born the son of a street entertainer and grew up in the far-from-aristocratic surroundings of Shoreditch. As the investigation gathers pace, more startling revelations come to light, including the baron's real name, his colourful career as a 1950s holiday camp entertainer, his brush with a life-threatening illness, the source of his extraordinary talents and why he created multiple personalities.
Kenneth Wren lived all his life in Romford, and when he passed away aged 79 he appeared to have no remaining family. Despite having lived in sheltered accommodation for nearly 16 years, even his neighbours knew nothing about him. As the heir hunters at Fraser and Fraser set to work they discover that Kenneth was once part of a very large family struggling to survive the inter-war years. But why did he lose touch? And with such a big family, surely there must be at least one surviving heir? Fraser and Fraser is also on the case of Jan Olszewski. A Polish emigrant living in Halifax, Jan died in 1998 leaving an estate of 53,000 pounds. As the trail leads back to Poland, a tale emerges of wartime heroism, the systematic carving up of a country and the shocking truth behind the notorious Katyn massacre of 1940. But will the team succeed in tracking down Jan's family? And how will any heirs react to hearing that he survived the war and started a whole new life for himself in England?
Elfie Lee died aged 92 in 2005, leaving behind an unclaimed estate of 300,000 pounds but no immediate family. As they hunt for potential heirs, the team members at Fraser and Fraser are forced to spread the net far and wide. As the trail snakes its way through the Sudan, Algeria, Egypt and Zimbabwe, it becomes apparent that Elfie's story is inextricably linked to the spread of a communications system that revolutionised the 19th century and helped ensure the smooth running of the British Empire. Back in England, Suffolk based Mitchell and Co is investigating the extraordinary case of Dorothea Allen. A high-society millionairess who made her fortune from a massively successful corsetry business, she owned a huge mansion, exquisite furniture, lavish jewellery and the obligatory Rolls-Royce. But as investigators discover, Dorothea led an incredible double-life, and as the mystery deepens the team wonders what dark secrets could have led her to systematically destroy her own identity?
David Luty died in Leeds in 2008. Unmarried and with no children, he'd worked all his life as an accountant for the Yorkshire Electricity Board. Initially the only record the team at Fraser and Fraser had was name and date of death. By using a mix of experience and inspired hunches, a family tree soon begins to emerge. But with the threat of rivals on the case and with his estate estimated to be worth 50,000 pounds or more, the team is forced to take some calculated risks. But will the gamble pay-off? Over at Celtic Research Saul Marks is investigating the case of Sylvia Casson, who died in 2008 at the venerable age of 97. As Saul probes deeper in to her case, he uncovers a compelling story of a family forced to flee Russian persecution in the 1880s, and of a young girl defying the Blitz and Nazi 'terror weapons'. But just as Saul seems close to cracking the case, an unexpected development threatens to undo all his hard work
Peter Greatrex died aged just 57, having spent nearly all his life in Birmingham working for Severn Trent Water. As Fraser and Fraser dig deeper they soon uncover a complex web of family connections and the moving story of a child separated from her dad for more than 30 years. Julia Dick-Larkam died a lonely widow in 1998, aged 83. To all intents and purposes, Julia's maiden name was Marklove, but it soon transpires that she was actually given a whole new identity by the Coram Foundation, a remarkable charity founded in the 18th century dedicated to the care of unwanted and abandoned babies. As the Fraser and Fraser team investigates further, it unearths the terrible hardships that led Thomas Coram to set up his foundling hospital and traces the extraordinary success of England's oldest children's charity. By why was Julia abandoned by her mother back in 1915? And as the team tracks down her heirs, how will they respond to discovering that they had an aunt they never even knew existed?
Albert Crook died in February 2008, aged 69. He never married, had no children and had worked nearly all his life as a farm labourer in Cheshire. By all rights, his estate should be a small one, but Fraser and Fraser soon hears rumours of 100,000 pounds in assets and a mysterious suitcase full of cash. With such a prize on offer, the pressure is on to find Albert's rightful heirs and discover just how a lowly paid labourer could amass that kind of wealth. Hoopers has to unravel the perplexing case of who owns a Victorian school site worth 800,000 pounds. With the school planning to move out, the site should revert to the heirs of the original benefactors - Victorian philanthropists, Reverend Charles Belli and Octavius Coope. But finding the heirs means delving back through a 100-year-long trail of wills, and even seeking a High Court ruling. If things don't go well, the heirs won't receive a penny and the school's plan to move into a new home will be in tatters.
Ronald Millar died aged 80. After a shocking incident four years before his death, Ronald became a recluse, his only contact with the outside world coming through volunteers who helped him with shopping. But he left behind an estate worth 30,000 pounds and the Fraser team is soon in a race against time to find any descendants. At Heirtrace in Suffolk, Derek Rodbard is working to trace the descendants of people killed during the Holocaust - the systematic genocide of the Jews by the Nazis. Focusing on Ernst Hornung, a Jewish professional who was killed leaving a still-unpaid life insurance policy, he soon discovers a son, Otto. But for Otto, the money is of secondary importance. As Derek delves deeper, a tale emerges of incredible courage and tenacity, of a family determined to maintain its unity despite being torn apart by events, and of a Swedish diplomat's extraordinary efforts to save the lives of 100,000 people.
Roy Read left an unclaimed estate of around 200,000 pounds. Having spent his semi-retirement as a driver for Age Concern, he had given a lot to the community. Yet he died alone, with no family to care for him. As Fraser and Fraser investigates, Roy's family tree proves almost impossible to follow, with every avenue a dead-end. But when it suddenly emerges that Roy could be the illegitimate son of a milkman, the investigation takes on a whole new character. Over at the offices of Celtic Research, Hector Birchwood is delving into the case of Kenneth Yale. He died aged 79 in a Glasgow hospital after having led an apparently unremarkable life. But as Hector explores further, it becomes clear that the Yale family has a skeleton in its closet and someone is about to have to come to terms with a startling discovery.
Christopher Bett died leaving an estate worth 100,000 pounds. As he was adopted after his mother died, his adoptive parents are legally seen as his blood relatives. Soon it is all hands to the pump for Fraser and Fraser, as the race to track down surviving heirs picks up pace. But competitors are dogging their every move and, as Christopher's family tree takes shape, an already overstretched team is forced to spread the net even wider. Next stop Australia. Meanwhile, in the sleepy Sussex town of Burgess Hill, heir hunters Lord and Lady Teviot investigate the tale of Daisy Hart. She died in 1996 leaving an estate of 12,000 pounds and, after some intense sleuthing, Lord Teviot begins to believe that Daisy may have been an illegitimate child 'given away' by her natural mother. As the investigation progresses, it sheds light on an age in which illegitimacy was seen as a sin and leads to a bittersweet discovery for Daisy's family.
The Fraser and Fraser team is aiming to track down the heirs of Irene Shepard, an 87-year-old who died leaving an estate in the region of 200,000 pounds. However, finding any surviving heirs proves a tricky task and every time the team thinks it has found a hot lead, the trail runs cold. With the clock ticking down and rivals chasing the same prize, Fraser and Fraser pours ever more resources into the case. But will the gamble prove a costly failure? Johnny Hubbard spent most of his adult life sleeping rough. But when he died aged 74, he left behind an estate of 35,000 pounds. As the team at heir hunting experts Hoopers investigates, it uncovers a harrowing story. Born and raised in Islington, it appears that Johnny had a troubled upbringing overshadowed by a violent father. With every new development the team adds to the picture of a brutal life, and then comes the discovery of a tragic incident that just might explain why Johnny spent more than 40 years on the streets and gained the nickname 'Tramp Hubbard'.
Anthony Williams died aged 82 in his run-down Dunstable home. An intensely private man in later life, he was once an RAF serviceman. When it comes to tracing his heirs, Fraser and Fraser has its work cut out, not least because Williams is the third most common surname in the country. As the investigation moves forward it's revealed that Anthony's sister is still alive. Why did the pair lose touch, and how will she react to the news of his death? The extraordinary case of Joyce Hanafy takes the team into a different world. Joyce died in 2006 in a nondescript nursing home in Wandsworth, London, yet she owned a million-pound property in Putney. The team is soon immersed in a world of glamour, professional modelling and even wartime espionage. As one revelation follows another, Neil Fraser is forced to head for the backstreets of Cairo.
Hilda Watkinson died in 2008. A widow, everyone knew her as Babs. After her husband died, she sold their high street flat so the team at Fraser and Fraser feels that hunting down her heirs could be a lucrative move. Babs was one of ten children, and as the family tree grows rapidly, more potential heirs appear. Does the team have the resources and energy to sign them up before the competition moves in? As the chase hots up the team is stretched to breaking point. Elsewhere, independent heir hunter Cat Whiteaway is on the case of Bertha Clarke, a widow who died leaving an unclaimed estate worth 21,000 pounds. As Cat works her way through the records, she discovers that Bertha may have been an illegitimate child. Soon the investigation leads into the notorious infirmaries and workhouses of London's impoverished East End, where many young mothers were forced to make the most agonising decision of their lives.
When bachelor Gordon Stewart was found dead in his Aylesbury home, the house was filled from floor to ceiling with rubbish. What events in his life led him to such a lonely end? As Fraser and Fraser investigators set to work, they discover evidence of family tragedies and maybe even murder. As the case gets more complicated, the heir hunters' worst fears look set to be realised. Meanwhile, in leafy Sussex, heir hunter Lady Teviot probes into the case of Joan Mansfield. A British national born in India, Joan ended her days in Calgary, Canada, leaving no will, but an estate worth 30,000 pounds. It appears that Joan was part of a large family and spent her early life in colonial India. What was it that forced her to up sticks, lose contact with her brothers and sisters, and forge a new life for herself in Canada?
Retired bingo hall manager William Toms died in 2008. At first sight his story is straightforward, but as the team at Fraser and Fraser sets to work, the case becomes complicated. As evidence of multiple marriages, numerous stepchildren, adultery and divorce emerges, the plot resembles a complicated romantic novel. Just when the team seems to have everything sorted, the investigators make an unexpected discovery. Meanwhile, over at the offices of Hoopers, Senior Case Manager Kevin Edmonson investigates the extraordinary case of Mary Loraine. A virtual recluse, she died over 30 years ago when fire swept through her Brighton home. As her story unfolds, it becomes more bizarre, involving a famous actress mother and a forgotten fortune. There's even a wartime connection with the Special Operations Executive, a clandestine organisation dedicated to helping resistance movements on mainland Europe. Who stands to inherit her 100,000 pounds estate? The discovery of a son born in Cairo could be a vital breakthrough.
Vincent McGarry died in East London leaving behind an estate worth an estimated 150,000 pounds. A telecommunications engineer, he also spent 22 years in the army, achieving the rank of sergeant and earning the prestigious British Empire Medal. Yet as Fraser and Fraser delves into his family's history, the team discovers a tale of suicide, serial bigamy and numerous half-brothers and sisters about to meet each other for the first time. At Celtic Research in Powys, Wales, Peter Birchwood examines the case of Peter Sharpe, a man who died at the relatively young age of 57. As the heir hunter investigates, he makes the surprising discovery that Peter's brother lives a mere 10 miles away but is unaware of the death. Why did family members lose touch with each other, and what memories are stirred up by the knowledge of Peter's untimely death?
Beatrice Emms died aged 78 in July 2008 in Birmingham without any obvious living blood relatives. When the heir hunters discover her estate is worth an approximate eighty thousand pounds, they decide the challenge to uncover beneficiaries is one worth rising to but as names in birth, death and marriage records refuse to tally up, they are literally left tearing their hair out. Will the heir hunters manage to crack the case before their patience cracks or will a rival firm get there first? Meanwhile, Celtic Research, have been trying in vain to solve the case of Nancy Elizabeth Garner for the last 16 years and have continually drawn a blank. It is only after a recent change in law that their researchers can finally gain access to clues which eventually lead them - via a workhouse in Wales - to beneficiaries of the 50 thousand pound fortune Nancy left behind. Along the way they also uncover an explanation for a difficult relationship which a brother and sister had always shared with their mother, but could never explain.
Charlotte Walker was a much-loved character in her local village, and achieved the milestone of 101 before she passed away. She was surrounded by close family and friends and had already decided who would inherit her 150,000 pound fortune. But fate stepped in, and the heir hunters' investigation reveals a sorry tale of good intentions gone horribly wrong. When heir hunting company Hoopers looked into the case of Cyril Curtis, a reclusive bachelor who passed away in Great Yarmouth, they never dreamed they would be uncovering a family secret that had lain hidden for nearly 60 years. Their discovery brought two sisters together for the first time - but it also raised many questions the sisters are still struggling to answer.
Gladys Willerton died a widow aged 86 in August 2008 in Leicester. She was a very active member in the Leicester Progressive Spritualist Church, which became the main focus of her life both professionally and socially. Having lost touch with her family a long time ago the heir hunters have a mountain to climb as the race is on to see who gets to any living relatives first! Gladys' existence is eventually rediscovered by a half blood family who are spurred on to research their own family tree as a result. Meanwhile, other members behind the Frasers team uncover the devastating tale behind a 250,000 pound case which sees a family ravaged by illness and death. Spurred on, they want to turn this family's luck around and stop the estate from going straight into the government's coffers, but will they manage it with so few survivors to help them piece together the essential family tree?
Charles Reynolds died aged 92 in December 2008. He never married, had no children and had worked nearly all his life as a boiler man at the local police station. He was an incredibly reclusive, independent man and a creature of habit. He never lavished himself with expensive gifts, getting his first television set at the age of 72! The team at Frasers have their work cut out as they work the case and try to track down anyone who knew Charles, let alone any living heirs to his estate. Heir Hunters' Hoopers also work on the heart-wrenching tale of Walter Darling - one of four siblings who were sent to the same orphanage in the 1940s but who grew up apart. Walter died in Blackpool in March 2008 and was well-loved by the local community. He was known for being a modest man and for his love of nature and the local wildlife. But just how did a man of such humble means and needs manage to amass a fortune of 55,000 pounds, and how would his long lost sister feel when she found out about her share of the inheritance not to mention looking back at a particularly painful part of her family history?
George Cashmore died in a nursing home in 2008 aged 80. At first sight his case seems pretty straightforward, but as the team move into action, his past becomes murkier and raises more questions than it answers. Just to add to the pressure, the competition also starts snapping at the heir hunter's heels and the tension mounts to locate his descendants once and for all. This task falls on travelling heir hunter Paul Matthews' shoulders as he goes on a major league heir hunt... Will he bag them all or fall at the last hurdle? Meanwhile, case manager David Milchard, aka 'Grimble', works the case of a well-loved Oxford eccentric, Raymond Maynard. The tale brims with intrigue and fear, from false names to gangsters to prostitutes; it reads like a bestselling novel. The final cherry on the cake is when they find out the estate is worth an astounding quarter of a million pounds, so there's no lack of motivation for the team at Frasers as they hunt out survivors to this lucrative estate
Dorothy Hodgson died alone in Newcastle aged 86. She'd become reclusive after her beloved husband Lawrence became ill with Alzheimer's. As she left behind an estimated 170,000 pound estate, the case is attracting a lot of competition. Fraser and Fraser have to work quickly but as the family tree starts to spiral out of control, will travelling heir hunter Dave Mansell be able to keep up? Michael McHugh died in Chicago in 2000, leaving behind a 500,000 dollar legacy to his god-daughter, Rosemary. When all attempts to find her fail, Celtic Research are drafted in to help and their search leads them on a journey of discovery about an Irish family ripped apart by poverty and hardships.
Norma Grace Boilard passed away aged 79. She never married nor had any children. She lived alone in her house in Battersea and died a spinster. Although Norma left no will, she was surrounded by a close circle of friends throughout her life. But where and who were her blood relatives, and are any of them still alive? Her case takes the Fraser and Fraser team of heir hunters across the globe as they tackle a family story which begins in the Indian Raj and reveals the unusual life of the rich and famous. George Reminnij passed away in Cardiff. He was a well liked, hard-working man but also one full of mystery. His friends knew nothing about his past and as Celtic Research investigate his case they begin to understand why he may have wanted to keep this under wraps. Their journey uncovers an intriguing tale of a man who fled the Russians fearing his secret life would endanger his family. Will the heir hunters be able to unravel his mystery and find a living heir at the end of it all?
Ethel Climpson died aged 88 in East London. With the case being valued at a possible 200,000 pounds, the heir hunters face some of their toughest competition yet in the race to be the first to sign up heirs. Company Partner, Neil Fraser, decides to throw all his resources at it but will it be enough? Meanwhile, probate researchers from Celtic Research look into the case of Howell Morgan. He died aged 77 in South Wales not far from where he was born. When heir hunters come across a deceased person such as this - who was born and died in the same area - it often means that their search will be focused there, but in the case of Howell Morgan their investigation takes them to the end of the earth and back!
Fraser and Fraser get a lead on a case worth a fortune. Glenys Murdoch died in Canterbury leaving an estate worth almost a quarter of a million pounds. As she died without leaving a will, the hunt is on for living relatives. As the team delves deeper, they start to unravel a story of murder, intrigue and war. And, we ask what happens if someone does leave a will, but not all their assets have been traced and included in that will? There are currently 15 billion pounds worth of unclaimed assets in the UK and that includes old insurance policies, dormant bank accounts and unclaimed shares. Insurance company Liverpool Victoria investigates two stories of long-forgotten policies that see families benefit after some productive detective work.
Margaret Porter passed away in June 2008. A shy and reclusive woman, she had withdrawn herself from society when her wartime sweetheart and husband of 50 years had died a few years earlier. As the Fraser and Fraser team start to delve deeper into her story, they uncover both a reasonable legacy and a mystery they'll need to solve if they are to make any headway. The race is on to the crack the case before their competitors, but who will get to the finishing line first? Meanwhile Heir Hunters company, Hoopers, are stumped by the case of Claire Hunt. This love story sees the team chasing their own tails in an attempt to find any living relatives. But, with the case being worth more than 100,000 pounds, they can't afford to give up too easily. That said, it does seem to throw up more questions than it does answers
Alan Hall died suddenly at 52. He'd always been surrounded by friends and was a popular character in his Rutland village. Can the heir hunters team at Fraser and Fraser's find anyone entitled to a share of his estate? Meanwhile, heir-hunting company Hoopers are asked to take on the case of Kathleen Cundall. She died in a nursing home aged 83 without leaving instructions for her substanstial 300,000 pounds estate. The search for her heirs reveals the life of a career woman who served in the WAAF before entering an altogether more glamorous world.
Robin Hardy Palmer died aged 58 in West London. As the Frasers team battle to find heirs to his estate their frustrations mount and they start to feel like they are clutching at straws. Unable to get hold of the certificates they need they decide to play a more speculative game but will their gambles pay off or could it all be for nothing? Meanwhile Heir Hunters company, Hoopers, tackle a case unlike any other as a vicar stakes a claim to a very unusual inheritance. He believes he's entitled to be buried in a particular family grave in West London's famous Kensal Green Cemetery, but will the heir hunters be able to prove his case either way?
John Kiff died in Littlehampton on the South Coast of England in September 2008 leaving an estimated one hundred and fifty thousand pounds estate. Before moving to Sussex, John had lived in London where there appeared to be records of him also under the name of John Smith. Given that this is one of the most common names in Britain the heir hunters have got their work well and truly cut out for them as their research could easily see them barking up the wrong family tree. Meanwhile Celtic Research have been looking into the case of Ivy Sherry who died in April 2009 from a stroke. She spent the last few years of her life in Middlewich, at an NHS Supportive Housing Network, as she had lived for many years with a range of learning difficulties. Given that she had died without leaving a will, the heir hunters set to work trying to track down any living blood relatives
Reclusive Peter Hollins liked to keep himself to himself. He died at home alone aged 70 years old in 2009. As he hadn't left a will, it is down to the heir hunters to track down any living blood relatives - but with no birth certificate to be found, where do they start? All eyes fall on ex-copper and travelling heir hunter David Hadley to see if he'll be able to uncover the vital information they need from his investigation on the road. Meanwhile Fraser and Frasers have also been contacted by the neighbours of a derelict house which is causing them grief. The team discover that the last resident at the address was an ex-Army major, John Ashby, who passed away in April 2007 leaving behind him an unclaimed estate worth an estimated half a million pounds. With this figure at stake, the hunt is on for beneficiaries which in turn may help the street return back to normal and give the neighbours the peace and quiet they're yearning for.
Margaret Mooney died in East London in July 2009, aged 88. She had dedicated her life to charity work and when she passed away she left behind her a fortune in excess of 200,000 pounds. As she didn't leave a will it is now down to Fraser and Frasers to track down any living family relatives. The investigation sets Case Manager Tony Pledger's head in a spin as the family tree grows and grows. Celtic Research uncover one of their youngest heirs to date. Olive Sonntag died in 2008 in a care home on the Isle of Wight, aged 84. She left behind an estate worth an estimated 130,000 pounds, but no will. This case sees the team of heir hunters inspired to go on a journey eventually leading them to Liverpool and Olive's great niece - a 20 year old tattoo artist.
The team behind Fraser and Frasers' investigate the case of a well-loved man who was surrounded by friends, but had no known family. Kenneth Adams lived in a semi-detached house in Birmingham - his second home was his local. As the team set to work tracking down heirs to his estimated 110,000 pounds estate, they quickly realise they're going to have to act fast if they're to solve the case ahead of competing heir hunters. Will they pull it off in time? Every little bit of help from his friends could go a long way... Also, it's a well known fact that heir hunting can often reveal surprising family secrets, but when Fraser and Frasers began working the estimated 300k estate of Violet Young they revealed a lot more than that. Just when they thought their research was done on this case, a will appeared rendering all of their work useless. But they quickly uncovered discrepancies in the paperwork and before long the police and the team were looking at a multi-million pound crime which sent a seismic shock through the world of heir-hunting
Widower Jean Ring recently died in the seaside town of Seahouses in Northumberland leaving an estate worth an estimated 150,000 pounds behind her. She had enjoyed 55 years of happy marriage, but had had no children so the heir hunters are looking for family members from further afield. Without the luxury of time on their side Company Partner Neil Fraser decides to throw all his resources at solving the case in order to beat off any potential rival firms. Along the way they uncover a family of butchers and adventurers as their investigation takes them across the globe on an exciting chase. Meanwhile the office has also been looking into the case of Michael Moore who was born in London in 1948 and passed away in Croydon in July 2009. As a sufferer of Downs Syndrome Michael Moore had been well looked after by his parents during their lifetime, but once he had outlived them he was moved to The British Home for the Incurables where he later died. The trail for his blood relatives lead the heir hunters on what feels like a wild goose chase as with every breakthrough they make there seems to be an accompanying setback. Can they get to the bottom of this and return Michael's estate to his wider family or will it be a case of one up to the Treasury on this occasion?
Joyce Logan died aged 87 in February 2008. She had been married to Raymond Perkins for 51 years but they never had children. The heir hunters begin working the case but because Joyce had no children or siblings, everything hangs on her parents and any siblings they might have had. But immediately, the team hit a wall. They discover Joyce was born illegitimately and therefore they cannot trace her father's side of the family. As avenues are closing down on them, they are faced with the possibility that Joyce's 30 thousand pound estate might end up in the hands of the government. Will the team be able to track down an heir in time and ensure Joyce's estate stays in the family? The heir hunters also work on the case of Kenneth Routledge and his 160 thousand pound estate. As the hunt hots up an intriguing story starts to unravel. They discover how the deceased had closed himself off from the world whilst secretly working away in his cellar on ideas and inventions which he hoped would make him his fortune. But just how successful was he? And would the team manage to track down any beneficiaries to his estate?
The heir hunters struggle to trace a family with the most common surname in the country as they look into the case of Harold Herbert Smith - known as Bert to his friends. He passed away in Surrey in December 2008 leaving behind him a substantial estate in the region of 400,000 pounds. As the team become frustrated trying to identify the correct Smith family, a helpful neighbour comes up trumps. But will this be enough to help the heir hunters find their needle in the haystack? Meanwhile Fraser and Fraser's Case Manager, Simon Grosvenor, has been investigating the case of John Wise. John passed away in February 2008 at the age of 78 and represented the classic story of a working class boy done good. He may not have owned his own home but when he died he left behind him a staggering 300,000 pounds in his bank account. As Case Manager Simon delves deeper into John's story in his search for heirs, he also discovers a brilliant economist whose grasp of money was far from what you'd expect.
This episode shows how lightning really does strike twice as the heir hunters uncover an amazing coincidence when they investigate the case of old school gent, Douglas Greatrex. He died in Birmingham in August 2009 not far from where he had lived for most of his life. As the team get to work tracking down his blood relatives, of which there are many, they come across one who makes them do a double take. They realise they have been here before and only eight months earlier. Meanwhile heir hunters from Celtic Research are looking into the case of Polish soldier, Tadeusz Gaweda, who passed away in 1991 in Forest Hill, South London. His case had remained unsolved for many years until Hector Birchwood from Celtic decided to take it on. After making some headway it isn't long before Hector's back up against a brick wall. He finds heirs only to lose them again, but will he be able to bring the hunt back on track? This story sees the investigation cross several European borders as it unravels a tale of slave labour and Second World War suffering and hardship.
Marjorie Chapman died in a nursing home but tragically the heir hunters learn she lost all three of her children and it's not long before the shocking truth about their deaths emerges. The team also look at one of their largest-ever cases. Michael Moran died in England but was from an enormous Irish family who ended up spread around the world. Plus details of three more unclaimed estates, could you be an heir?
Grace Woods died in Oxford aged 89 leaving an estate worth 150,000 pounds. The heir hunters are stunned to learn that Grace was Britain's first bona fide supermodel and in 1946 led a troupe of Britain's finest models on a glamorous trip to New York. The heir hunters also look at the case of Leons Grinbergs, a Latvian who was forced from his homeland by the bloody battle between the Germans and the Russians. Plus details of three more unclaimed estates; could you be an heir?
Barbara Page died aged 80, leaving behind an estate worth 100,000 pounds. The heir hunters manage to trace Barbara's family quickly but it's a competition between them and rival firms. The team also look at the case of George Ardley, a farmer who died in 2009 leaving 160,000 pounds and a herd of cows. The search for George's family uncovers relatives he never knew he had. Plus details of three more unclaimed estates; could you be an heir?
Edith Cator was born and bred in Watford and married her third husband Burt at the age of 78. The search for Edith's relatives proves tricky with rival firms competing to be the first to find her heirs. The case of Elizabeth Mukerji has stumped heir hunters for nearly 20 years. Her husband's family had connections with Ghandi but the search for Elizabeth's heirs ends up in Ireland. Plus details of three more unclaimed estates, could you be an heir?
Robert Thomas died without leaving a will in 2009 and left behind a 20,000 pound estate. Thomas is the 9th most common surname in Britain, but will the team win through and ensure Robert's estate goes to relatives and not the government? The team also look at the estate of Alexandra Koshevnikova who fled Russia after the revolution of 1917. She came from a wealthy background and spent months living in the Waldorf Astoria in New York but she ended up living in Buckinghamshire teaching Russian for the British Secret Service.
Retired British Army Captain Brian Simon Birch MBE died in Malta where he'd lived as an expat for over 20 years. He left an estate worth over 270,000 pounds and the heir hunters throw all their resources at the case. The heir hunters also look at the estate of Marilyn Kutner whose family came to Britain from Lithuania in the 1920s. Like many Jewish immigrants, the Kutners anglicised their names, making the search for Marilyn's heirs very difficult indeed.
Doreen Walker died in Lewisham leaving a house worth an estimated 250,000 pounds. The heir hunters learn she was a professional singer but can they find any living relatives to inherit her estate? The team also look at the case of Frederick West, a Victorian philanthropist who donated some land in 1844 which is now being sold for 375,000 pounds. The search uncovers links with Winston Churchill, King Edward VI and wealthy German aristocracy.
The search is on for heirs to Audrey Coleman's estate and there's plenty of competition from rival firms. The heir hunters also look at the estate of Wiktor Dynack who died in the Royal Star & Garter home for ex-military personnel in Richmond. He came to Britain with the Polish resettlement corps having been forced out of Poland during the war.
Gravedigger Billy Brown is known to have died in South-West London but his surname is a notoriously difficult name to research. But will the heir hunters win through and find the rightful beneficiaries to Billy's estate? The search for relatives of Georgina Greenhouses from the Shropshire quarrying town of Cleehills gives the heir hunters a real headache. Her mother committed bigamy because she couldn't afford a divorce, which makes the research very tricky indeed.
Howard Jones died alone leaving 40,000 pounds in cash lying around his home and the heir hunters must break the news of his death to his closest relatives. The team also look at the estate of musician Timothy Rose, widely acknowledged as one of the nearly men of the 1960s/70s music scene. He's best known for his unique arrangement of the blues song Hey Joe which was later covered by Jimi Hendrix but will heir hunters find any living relatives?
James Somers died in Ashford in 2010. The search for his heirs causes confusion for the heir hunters who struggle to find out whether he was born in England or Ireland. The team also looks at the case of Olive Buck whose family were separated by the devastating Bath Blitz. Olive was moved out to the country and lost touch with her relatives - can the heir hunters track them down?
The heir hunters investigate the case of Mary Glanfield but struggle to establish whether there is any value in the estate. The team also looks at the estate of Jamaican-born Keith Saunders who came to Britain in the 1950s. It seems he left an estate worth 90,000 pounds, but can the heir hunters solve this case without going to Jamaica? There are details of three more unclaimed estates, and could you be an heir?
The estate of David Hugh Roberts, worth 2 million pounds, had eluded the heir hunters for five years. He died a recluse in a flat near Wimbledon and the team has tried unsuccessfully to find living relatives. Now though there is fresh hope as new records are available. Penny Belchambers died in a 600,000 pound flat in Kensington. The search for her heirs uncovers the tale of Polish war pilot Witold Lanowski who flew with the RAF during the Second World War. Plus there are details of three more unclaimed estates, and could you be an heir?
Motorcycle enthusiast Ian Milner died in 2010 and it's up to the heir hunters to try and find living relatives. Their search takes them to Bradford and they are in a race against competing firms. The team also looks at the estate of Ruth Sedgbeer who came from a family of Scottish sheep farmers that were part of a pioneering Victorian experiment aimed at turning Exmoor into farmland. Plus, could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
The team looks into the estate of Edward Luckarift who died in North Wales and, during the 1960s, worked as a scriptwriter on the BBC programme That Was The Week That Was. Diana Paine was the daughter of a car salesman and when the Second World War broke out she was one of the thousands of women who joined the war effort, becoming a driver for the Kent fire service. Plus, could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
Avid cricket fan Cecil Walton died in Durham in 2010 leaving no will. It's now up to the heir hunters to find relatives who can inherit his estimated 100,000 pound estate. The Heir Hunters also look at the case of Gustav Sturm a German who came to Britain as a prisoner of war and never left. Gustav's family knew little of how he had been forced to fight for the German army in some of the bloodiest battles of the second world war. Plus, details of three unsolved cases. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
The case of Edward Drinkwater is a sad tale of two brothers who died within hours of each other. It's an unusual situation for the Heir Hunters but they get straight to the task of trying to find living relatives. Winifried Neaves is another name that appears on the unclaimed estates list and the hunters make swift work of building up her family tree and finding heirs. But then, out of the blue, a will is found. Plus, could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
When the heir hunters look into the estate of Vera Simpson they discover her Grandfather was involved in the famous Jarrow march of 1936 in which disgruntled shipbuilders marched 300 miles to London to protest against unemployment. Arthur Webbe passed away over 20 years ago and his estate has remained unclaimed ever since. Arthur was from a proud sea faring family. His grandfather had travelled to the Caribbean and his father was a master mariner who was tragically lost at sea during the first world war. Plus, details of three unsolved cases. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
Elsie Pope died in a nursing home near Shrewsbury leaving an estate worth 50,000 pounds. The search for her heirs is complex, not least because Elsie's father managed to register her birth twice in two different districts. Rose Edwards was a working class girl from the East End of London and went on to become one of Lyons' famous Nippy waitresses working in their prestigious teahouse in Marble Arch. Faced with a large London family, the heir hunters uncover a surprising secret. Plus, how you could be entitled to a share of unclaimed estates worth thousands or even millions of pounds.
The heir hunters get the inside scoop on the 250,000 pound estate of Howard Whittles and they're soon confident they've got the case sewn up. But is their confidence mis-placed? Leanora Phelps died in the Wirral where she had lived her whole life. She came from a family of dairy farmers and when the heir hunters go door knocking, one lady gets the surprise of her life. Plus, details of three unsolved cases. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
David Bernstein died alone in a derelict house Brighton, leaving an estate worth around 300,000 pounds. David was from a Jewish immigrant family, and with Bernstein an extremely common name, the team have their work cut out. The heir hunters also investigate the estate of music fanatic Donald Foster, whose family worked at the famous Cadbury factory in Birmingham. Plus, details of three unsolved cases. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
The search is on for heirs of Vera Humphrey, who was given up for adoption when she was a child. Will the heir hunters get the information they need to solve the case and find Vera's heirs? The heir hunters also look into the case of Arthur Comaskey. He died alone in Essex, but came from a proud engineering family who had been involved in ship building and the birth of the motor car. Plus, details of three unsolved cases. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
The heir hunters search for relatives of Red Cross nurse and hairdresser Ivy Hudson, who died at the ripe old age of 103. Also testing the Heir Hunters is the case of Norah Jackson, whose husband James died in a horrific factory accident. There are 55,000 pounds in compensation waiting to be claimed, but can the heir hunters find any relatives? Plus, could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate? Details of three unsolved cases which could be worth thousands, or even millions, of pounds.
Ronald Fawcett died in Stoke-on-Trent in 2010 without leaving a will, so the search for his heirs is on. The team throw all their resources at the case in the hope they can track down his heirs. Will they succeed? Meanwhile, the search for heirs to the estate of artist and set designer Anthony Whelan's estate takes the heir hunters all the way to the island of Bute in Scotland. Plus, details of three unsolved cases. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
Widower Gordon Smith died in 2009, leaving behind an estate worth 150,000 pounds. He left a will but it was not properly completed, so now the heir hunters must find living relatives. Michael Gray died alone in 2007 in his home in Kingston and was something of an enigma to his neighbours. But when the heir hunters begin investigating the estate, they learn his father's career with the air ministry had meant that Michael had spent much of his childhood in a remote port in the Yemen. Plus, details of three unsolved cases. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate worth thousands or even millions of pounds?
Pipe maker Albert Cornish lived in Hackney in London until his death in 2004. In the search to track down the rightful beneficiaries to Albert's estate, the heir hunters puzzle over whether Albert owned the home he lived in all his life. And the search for heirs of Eileen Nearne reveals her incredible secret: she worked undercover as a spy in World War II.
Retired carpenter Ernest Wright died in 2010 leaving an estate worth 200,000 pounds. The heir hunters head to Essex to investigate, but do they discover the wrong man? Also, the search for relatives of Howard Soberg reveals his past as a submariner in the Cold War and his family's desperate efforts to find him.
Whilst investigating the case of David Granger who died in Northampton in 2010, the heir hunters uncover a family mystery of two brothers separated from the rest of their family. And the death of Constance Harrington from Worthing sheds light on one of the twentieth century's most notorious scandals.
The heir hunters are trying to find relatives of Margaret Snare who died aged 85 in 2010. During their investigations, the team uncover a family history that does not add up. Did Margaret's mother Mabel really die in the Blitz? Plus, the case of Dorothy Warcup is not as straight forward as it first appears. The heir hunters try and help a blood relative in their quest to inherit Dorothy's estate.
The team are trying to find the heirs to the estate of Robert Mead, who died in Thailand. The team face a tough challenge working out if Robert had any relatives in the UK. Will all their efforts be rewarded when they find out how much the case is worth? And the case of Robin Miller enables an heir to find out more about his grandfather's past as one of Kitchener's Army during the World War I.
The team are trying to trace the relatives of David Johnson who died leaving an estate of 37,000 pounds. The search goes nationwide, but will the team find any heirs at the end of their extensive hunt? The team also investigate the case of Arthur Jones who died leaving a 225,000 pounds estate. Arthur was an ex-soldier who was haunted by his memories of war and the heir hunters uncover his tragic life story.
The case of Daisy Wingrove finds the heir hunters tackling one of their biggest cases ever. With two rival managers racing to be the first to sign up heirs, will David Pacifico or Grimble come out on top? And investigations in to the case of Mykola Lotocky reveal the tragic story of a family separated in the midst of battle during World War II.
The team search for relatives of a mysterious man who travelled the world and rubbed shoulders with some remarkable people, all of which raises an intriguing question; was he in fact a spy? The heir hunters also look into the estate of a lady whose family made their living on the railways
Heir Hunters finally solve a 20-year-old case, and along the way reveal the story of a heroic pilot in the family who died in the final days of World War II. And when BBC weatherman Michael Fish learns he is the heir to an unclaimed estate, he goes on a journey of discovery through his family history
The search for heirs to a Welsh school site reveals a surprising connection to a former president of the USA. And the heir hunters embark on some Irish research as they search for relatives of a Liverpudlian lady
When a former member of the Royal College of Surgeons dies without leaving a will, the race is on to try and find his heirs. The heir hunters also look back at the case of a lady whose father was a celebrity in the world of pigeon fancying.
It is a busy day in the offices of the heir hunters as they try to track down relatives of a man whose family were involved in the textile trade. And the fascinating story of Jewish artist Jehuda Epstein, whose paintings were among thousands of artworks plundered by the Nazis in World War II. Now, though, one of Epstein's paintings is ready to be returned to his heirs.
A new heir comes to light on a case the heir hunters thought was complete, plus a remarkable story of wartime aviation is revealed. Meanwhile, the heir on another estate tries to learn more about her deceased cousin, a chess champion and radical playwright.
The team face a race against time to find living relatives of a man whose father was a magician. Plus, how the heir hunters were able to tell a family about an aunt they never knew they had.
As the team race to find heirs to a recently advertised unclaimed estate, they discover a surprise connection in Malta. Plus, the story of a Lincolnshire family who were divided by agricultural hardship and ended up living on opposite sides of the world.
The estate of a man called Smith causes real headaches for the heir hunters, but can they crack the case ahead of the competition? Plus, the moving story of a man whose troubled childhood led him to become estranged from his adoptive family.
The team take on a huge case which has them searching far and wide for rightful heirs. Plus, a family separated by wartime evacuation are reunited thanks to the work of the heir hunters.
The team are working against the clock to find heirs of a man whose family worked for London Underground during the Blitz. Plus, how investigations into one unclaimed estate revealed the story of a pioneering aviation engineer who helped design the remarkable Lysander plane.
A newly advertised unclaimed estate causes frustration for the heir hunters as they try and find living relatives ahead of the competition. Plus, the mysterious case of a lady who left her native Ireland in the 1950s and was never heard of again until she died leaving behind an estate worth £1.7 million.
The team grapple with an estate where a series of wills takes them back to the late 19th century. Plus, when a well respected vicar passes away in Surrey the search takes the team back to Middlesbrough and its remarkable steelmaking history.
The team are in for a surprise when they discover two unclaimed estates in the same family. Plus, how an heir hunt revealed a remarkable story of Antarctic exploration.
As the team struggle to solve one of their trickier cases, help comes along the way from some keen amateur genealogists. Plus, as one of the team celebrates retirement, research into the estate of a Scottish lady reveals two generations of coachmen who worked during the dawn of the motoring age.
The frantic search for heirs to a newly advertised estate reveals a family member who made lace for Queen Victoria. And two sisters go on a journey of discovery after finding out that they are heirs to a lady they had never heard of.
It's all hands on deck when the team begin working the £1.3 million estate of a retired policeman. And the story of an investigation that took the heir hunters all the way to the emerald isle.
When a much-loved lady dies without leaving a will, the heir hunters begin the search for her relative and soon discover that her husband was a World War Two meteorologist. An heir hunt that went all the way to Australia reveals the story of mass emigration, thanks to the 'ten pound pom' campaign.
The heir hunting team investigate the case of a lady who led a glamorous life, filled with international travel and adventure. And the story of an East End couple who chose to raise their disabled daughter at a time when conventional wisdom was to give them up for adoption.
When a man who had become estranged from his family dies without a will, it's up to the heir hunters to try and trace living relatives. And one heir goes on a journey of discovery to fill in the pieces of his late cousin's secret Cold War involvement
The story of Croydon's perfume history is revealed as the heir hunters try to trace relatives of a lady who died in the seaside town of Poole. And two brothers who grew up unaware of each other's existence meet for the very first time after being put in touch with each other by the heir hunters
The race is on to find heirs to the £100,000 estate of a Newcastle man who died without leaving a will. The team have a head start on the case, but will they be the first to find and sign up beneficiaries? Meanwhile, the search for heirs on another estate opens up fascinating story of chimney sweeps in London in the early 1900s.
A popular Lancashire farmer died without leaving a will, and his property has begun to fall into disrepair. Concerned friends contact the heir hunters to see if they can find relatives to inherit the estate. And the story of a search for heirs which revealed two generations of women who had played invaluable roles on Britain's production lines.
A Sidcup lady has passed away leaving a property but no will; can the heir hunters find living relatives entitled to a share of her estate? And the search for relatives of a former political correspondent reveals the story of a talented man who went on to have an illustrious career in spite of a difficult childhood.
The race is on to find relatives of a lady who was part of the famous World War II code-breaking mission at Bletchley Park. The team think she may have had a sister, but will this lead them to heirs? In another case the search for heirs reveals the rousing story of a labour activist who fought for the right of people in her beloved south Wales mining community.
When a former RAF officer dies without leaving a will, the heir hunters are under pressure to trace his relatives but common surnames make it a difficult task. Also this episode, the moving story of a man who lost both brothers during the first world war and whose attempts to protect his family during the blitz led to another tragedy
The heir hunters take on a high stakes case as they search for beneficiaries to the £750,000 estate of Oxfordshire man who passed away in 2011. Will they find relatives to inherit this potentially life changing sum? Also this episode, having invested time and resources tracing relatives of a man from Salford, the team are waiting on crucial information that will tell them whether or not he owned his property
The heir hunters' detective work takes them to a stately home in Warwickshire as they try to find relatives of a ladywho was born there. But will the team be able to crack this highly elusive case? Plus, an heir on another case goes on a journey of discovery to learn about the grandfather he never met.
A case comes in from America with a strong connection to the world of showbiz but the team face the difficult task of tracing the relatives of a lady who left the UK as a child in 1936. Also this episode, the story of a man who was adopted as a child reveals an exotic tale of life on the island of Bermuda.
The race is on to find the heirs to the £100,000 estate of a Southsea lady and the search uncovers a romantic story of a husband and wife who met whilst serving for the Navy. And an heir makes an emotional journey to learn more about her aunts and uncles and makes a poignant discovery about her mum's twin brother.
A newly advertised unclaimed estate causes frustration for the heir hunters. The death of a popular Manchester man sparks the search for heirs to his £20,000 estate, but the team have their work cut out when they discover part of the family emigrated to the other side of the world. And the story of a case where heir hunters worked along with the police to ensure that assets taken by a gang of fraudsters went to their rightful owners.
The heir hunters are called in by a solicitor to search for outstanding heirs to the £300,000 estate of a former merchant seaman. And the unclaimed estate of an actress unearths the romantic story of a young couple who fled to Gretna Green but later found themselves as front page news
The search is on for heirs to the six-figure estate of a talented linguist, but can the team trace his long lost relatives, and was there a will left in his London home? Plus the story of how name changes in a Jewish family tested the research skills of the heir hunters and ultimately lead to an emotional family reunio
The heir hunters are tasked with tracing relatives of a Northamptonshire man who left a will which was later discovered to be invalid. Meanwhile, the heir hunters visit one of the beneficiaries to a £65,000 estate and reveal some remarkable information about one of his ancestors' time in India.
News comes in about the unclaimed estate of a lady from Nottinghamshire and, although they are not sure of the value of the case, the heir hunters take it on. But will their gamble pay off? Plus how the search for heirs on one estate revealed the fascinating story of working life on Britain's waterways
A valuable £200,000 case proves a tough nut for the team to crack, and it reveals the story of a tragic accident on the LMS railways. And a surprising family secret is uncovered on a case which took the heir hunters almost twenty years to solve
The team take on the search for relatives of a well-liked Essex lady without knowing how much her estate is worth. When the true value of the estate is revealed, will their gamble have paid off? And a case from the archives reveals one family's link to Burma and tells the dramatic story of how they escaped when war broke out
The search is on for relatives of a Korean war veteran who died in London, and as the case progresses they are able to help one lady meet family members she never knew she had. And the story of a Shropshire woman whose collection of assets included jewellery with a very royal connection.
When it comes to tracing relatives in Wales, names don't come much harder than Jones, but that's the task facing one firm as they try to find beneficiaries to an unclaimed estate worth £11,000. And the search for relatives of a Cheshire man reveals one family's connection with the golden age of British coach travel.
The team compete against rival heir hunters to find and sign up heirs to the valuable estate of a Hampshire man, but will they get there first or will their efforts have been in vain? And the fascinating, if gruesome, history of a barber's shop is revealed as the heir hunters grapple with an enormous family tree.
One firm is investigating the case of a champion cat breeder, and the search uncovers the romance of early cinema. In another search, the grandsons of a Bristol man, who are tracked down by the heir hunters, embark on a journey of discovery that leads them to discover a shocking tale of secret chemical-weapons testing. Plus, details of unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
One firm takes on the case of an ex-mayor of Wokingham and uncovers his devotion to his local community. In another search, a remarkable story of childhood Jewish evacuation from Nazi Germany is revealed. Plus, details of unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
On a mission to establish the value of one Lincolnshire railwayman's estate, the heir hunters visit his last known address and uncover the story of his military service in Aden. Another investigation is complicated by numerous name changes, both of the family and the street in which they lived. Plus, details of unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
Series following probate researchers. The heir hunters are on the road in Ireland, tracking down beneficiaries of the estate of one Limerick-born man.
After the heir hunters race to find her, one heir visits the home of the relative she never knew. Surprisingly, it is just ten minutes down the road from her own house. Whilst on another case, the heir hunters experience a strange sense of déjà vu. They find themselves tracing heirs to an estate of a lady whom they have met before, and their search uncovers the remarkable history of Thames bargemen. Plus, details of unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
One firm takes a trip to the home of a Norwich newspaper man and uncovers a previously unknown pension payout of £30,000 - received just months before he died. Their research reveals the heroic tale of WWII minesweepers. On another case, the heir hunters investigate the life and work of a published Glaswegian author who had lost all contact with his family.
One team traces heirs to a £500,000 fortune and uncovers the story of a burlesque dancer who performed at Soho's famous Windmill club throughout WWII. Meanwhile, another case uncovers a family's links to one comic genius' radio career.
One firm are contacted by a relative who needs to track down the rest of his family after his cousin dies, and their Cornish roots are revealed. And the beneficiaries of a Roman Catholic priest embark on a journey to uncover his remarkable dedication to his Manchester parish.
As one case goes public, the heir hunters are on the road in Southampton, urgently trying to track down multiple beneficiaries to the estate of a local market trader worth over £100,000. Meanwhile, another firm's investigation reveals a family's historical link to the very beginnings of professional sport.
One firm investigates the case of a famous Blackpool accordion player. A child prodigy, she went on to perform at sell-out gigs in the seaside town's hotspots. When two brothers die on the same day in the same hospital after not seeing each other for many years, a tragic tale of family separation is revealed. The case also explores the history of Rolls Royce and the Crewe Railways.
The team find themselves in a frustrating search for heirs on a huge family tree and spend days out on the road trying to track them down. While on another case, the investigation into one former civil servant's £160,000 estate reveals her role in the political manoeuvrings of Howard Wilson.
One company looks into the case of an Enfield lady. After struggling to track down beneficiaries to her £400,000 estate, they come across news that threatens the whole investigation. Another team investigate the case of a missing man who lived in a shed for nearly 20 years, uncovering his full military pension and substantial savings.
In the case of a man who spent the last years of his life on the Essex coast, the search for his relatives leads the heir hunters to Wales. In another case a landed family tree shows its roots in 19th-century transatlantic communications.
The team go to amazing lengths to find the relations of a man from Ealing. The cases uncover a connection to a serial killer arrested by the Metropolitan Police and an American vaudeville performer who hit the big time in London.
The search for heirs in two cases reveals the tale of Second World War desert soldiers who did battle with more than just enemy fire, and the excitement of early film societies and amateur movie makers.
A simple case becomes very complicated when the family's secrets are revealed. Two cases reveal a great-grandfather's life on the docks, the early days of diving, and an uncle's role in the defeat of Germany in the Second World War is printed for posterity.
An investigation has the potential to make someone a millionaire. Research into family trees reveals how Britain's post-war building boom boosted Irish immigration, and how the British Infantry fought their way across the border into Nazi Germany.
Research into family trees uncovers the history of domestic service in one of the world's most prestigious universities, and how luxury transatlantic steam liners helped change the course of history.
The team try to trace relatives of a south London woman but are misled by a trail of false clues, making them question everything they know. Research into family trees reveals the life of British soldiers in 19th-century India, early surf tourism and the passionate few who blazed a trail for generations to come.
Teacher Jeffrey Hancock always stayed in touch with his family, but when the team take on his case, the pressure's on to track them down. Research into family trees uncovers secret liaisons and the challenges of life as a WREN
A chance conversation provides a new lead in a case that was shelved for several years, while in Liverpool, heir hunters reveal how important the docks were for an Irish family that arrived in the city at the turn of the 20th century.
Heir hunters work against the clock to find the family of a reclusive painter in north London, while elsewhere in the area, a team uncovers the story of a sailor who stopped at nothing to fight for his country and an uncle who manufactured bombers during World War II.
Heir hunters investigate the case of a former accountant complicated by a mystery surrounding his parentage. In Norfolk, a team looks at the case of a villager who died with thousands of pounds hidden in his house.
Heir hunters look into a tricky case of a large family of glove makers who plied their trade in Yeovil. In another case, the chance discovery of a war grave in a Thai cemetery leads heir hunters to two family members who both fought in Burma in World War II.
Heir hunters work on a tough case of a person who worked in ships' kitchens, while another team uncovers the story of an orphaned Norfolk boy who went on to achieve great things in the music industry.
Heir hunters travel to foreign shores as family histories are unlocked in the quest to find the rightful beneficiaries of unclaimed estates. One case centred on the Channel Island of Guernsey brings up heartbreaking tales of families torn apart by war, and reunites relatives as a niece is grateful to be given missing pieces of her own family tree. In America, friends remember a Cheshire woman who travelled across the pond to start a new life and then met an untimely death. The hunt to find heirs to inherit the estate she left Stateside travels back to home soil. The tragic case leads to a cousin embarking on an exciting journey of her own.
Adoption, the workhouse and the social stigma of illegitimacy in the early 20th century are revealed in the history of a very quiet man from St Albans. When an heir is found, he believes his grandfather was ashamed of what he was, and thinks that's why he never wanted to talk about it. A letter from the Queen is found in a house in Kent that's been empty for four years. It belonged to a woman who was in the Women's Land Army during World War II. The Heir Hunters discover that her father and her mother's father were deaf, and that the closely-knit deaf community of the late 1800s could be the reason her parents met in the first place.
Competition is intense as heir hunting firms battle to find heirs on a high-value treasury case worth close to half a million pounds. Uncovering a family history in motor car manufacturing, the hunt quickly leads to a sole heir discovered only a few miles away. Can the Heir Hunters beat other firms to sign him up and break the news of this unexpected windfall? In Shropshire, the hunt is on for heirs to the estate of a career soldier. With an unusual name to work with, the team discover his mother was conscripted to build parts for fighter planes during World War II - could this have sparked her son's interest in the military? With a career stretching halfway around the world to the rainforests of Borneo and back, the team uncovers a close-knit group of friends who fondly remember their army youth.
Heir hunters investigate a deceased person who doesn't seem to exist, while a sailor risks all for the sake of love. As researchers dig through census records, they uncover a grandfather who worked on the early London Underground and are led to an heir whose surprise encounter brings fond childhood memories flooding back. On another case, a name change proves a challenge to the team and leads to a family mystery stretching back over a hundred years. Discovering female relatives who made lace in the Midlands, one relative gets the surprise of a lifetime.
The Heir Hunters are up against stiff competition on a case just posted on the Bona Vacantia list. With travelling researchers dispatched to find out what they can from neighbours in the deceased's home village in rural Wales, the office team uncover the courageous exploits of a family member in the deserts of Egypt at the turn of the century and the mysterious double death of the deceased's parents, on the same day, in the run-up to Christmas four decades previously. In Margate in Kent, the shocking death of a local judo enthusiast leads the Heir Hunters to a large family of wheeler-dealers - fruiterers and greengrocers - scattered as far as Canada. As research unfolds, the team discovers that one wheeler-dealer uncle surpassed all the rest, reaching dizzying heights in the fast-moving London gambling scene. Back in Margate, the heir and his son go to find out more about their benefactor from his lifelong judo friends.
The Heir Hunters take on the case of a mysterious woman from Essex. As they delve into her records, the search moves to the Midlands and the steam railway where her grandfather worked as an engine driver. With an enormous family to research, work is cut out to ensure no heirs are missed, but a group effort pays off. In Yorkshire, four sisters and brothers who lived together all their lives are the starting point for a search that uncovers a large mining family in Durham. With generations of men working in the pit, the family's heir learns that the fancy footwork of one lucky ancestor paved the way to a celebrity sporting career, and saved his life from the front lines of war.
The Heir Hunters race to find heirs on one of their biggest ever cases. When a retired chambermaid with half a dozen siblings passes away leaving no will, the hunt is on to work out who might benefit. Census records provide crucial links and reveal a family history in printing in the early part of the 20th century. World War II provides the backdrop for another family tale of a Welsh dancing girl who fled Cardiff during the Blitz and moved north to Cheshire. But a mysterious name change threatens to close the case until war records provide a vital clue and the team unlocks the tragic story of a family ravaged by a killer of the time - tuberculosis.
In Kent, the house clearance of a retired lathe operator uncovers a large family, but surname changes don't add up and illegitimate births mean many won't be entitled. Delving deeper into the family tree, missing family records reveal two sister war brides who married their GI sweethearts, but had a fight on their hands to be reunited with them on the other side of the Atlantic. Another team working a Midlands case uncovers a grandmother who made cigars for a living in the thriving tobacco industry. Struggling to locate any heirs on one side of the family, a possible writing error on a census leads them up the wrong track before an eventual breakthrough reveals a large family. But just as the case is turning into a winner, a chance find might see it slip through the Heir Hunters' fingers.
The competition is on as Heir Hunters endeavour to crack a new treasury case before a rival firm gets there first. With family lines leading nowhere, the team's research takes an interesting tack when records lead to India and the family of a colonel in the British Raj. In London, another team attempts to crack a case that has gathered dust on the Bona Vacantia list for almost six years. Missing records and persecution lead to London's Jewish quarter in the early 1900s and the tale of a family separated. A surprised heir discovers a hidden secret about an uncle and learns how personal family letters were used to prove the case to the government.
Heir Hunters race to find family on one of their most valuable ever cases. When an NHS pathologist passes away, the search leads to a family torn apart by tuberculosis. As the hunt for heirs hits a dead end, records eventually lead halfway around the world and reveal that the family's youngest members were forced to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. In a second hunt, medical matters are also at the forefront with a grandfather who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, helping the wounded on the frontline of battle. As the search unfolds the team learns that his son, an ambulance driver, played his part during another great war, this time on the home front during the Blitz. With heirs receiving potentially life-changing sums of cash, they learn about the bravery of their unsung wartime heroes.
In this episode, both heir hunts involve a tough time on the front line uncovering long-forgotten tales of families reshaped by world conflicts. In a case with its roots planted firmly in London's East End, the team investigates an immigrant Jewish family who survived the horrors of Europe to endure the devastation of London in the Blitz. In Hatfield, Hertfordshire, one of the firm's travelling researchers struggles to find any clues from neighbours about a retired factory worker whose father survived a World War I prisoner of war camp. When the family tree begins to grow, it's an emotional journey for heirs who learn how their father's heroic army deeds made him one of World War II's silent heroes.
The competition is on as the Heir Hunters tackle a case just in on the government's Bona Vacantia list. As the family tree develops, the search widens to Lancashire and uncovers a family hero who flew illustrious Wellington bombers during World War II raids. In London, another firm tackle a tricky case, on hold for almost seven years while a personal agreement was honoured. Uncovering a huge family, the team also stumble across a mysterious family disappearance in the swinging sixties and an heir discovers more about her family's trade in the artisan world of glass blowing. Show less
The home of a retired lift attendant from Leeds goes under the hammer at auction and the Heir Hunters are hoping for a good profit to pass on to any heirs they can find. As the team unravel the family tree, they discover that one of her grandfathers rose from groom to coachman to chauffeur as horse-driven vehicles were replaced by turn-of-the-century mechanisation. In London, another team investigate the estate of a military man who fell in love and married an Italian girl while posted in Italy during World War II. As the search widens to find heirs, the story leads back to the UK and the deceased's childhood living in one of the UK's earliest forms of social housing, the Peabody Buildings in London.
In London two properties go under the hammer on a high-value case, but before any heirs can inherit the proceeds the team need to establish the identity of the deceased. With two names to research it's a tricky case of vested interest. As the mystery unfolds, researchers uncover a wealthy husband-and-wife flying duo. The stakes are also high on another case fresh on the government's Bona Vacantia list. Research leads to a family of silversmiths working in Birmingham at the turn of the century, but when war breaks out one of the girls turns her hand to farming and does her bit for her country as a land girl.
The probate researchers investigate a competitive case based in Dorset, using the newly-released 1939 register to help unlock a family tree. Their search turns up an uncle of the deceased who was once a naval policeman and as they scour other censuses, they discover more and more hidden family members. In a second case, a retired publican and hotelier with a great love of bowls is found to have been born illegitimately north of the border in Scotland, complicating the heir hunter's search. Working the deceased's mother's side of the family only, research reveals an uncle who servied in Asia.
The work of the heir hunters leads to an emotional meeting as a man travels 9,000 miles to see his half-sister for the first time. While on the case of a diehard Leicester City fan, a surprise adoption and travelling ancestors threaten to derail the search for heirs. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
The search is on for heirs to the million-pound estate of Douglas McMurrich, a retired engineer who was survived by his 76-year-old pet tortoise. The estate of a quiet Gloucestershire man reveals a raucous relative who played an instrumental role in British popular music. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
Heir hunters take on one of their biggest cases as they try to find relatives of a travelling salesman who lived in Scotland. Meanwhile the search for heirs of a retired dressmaker uncovers tales of boxing and bigamy, and the tragic story of a family decimated by the holocaust. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
When a ballroom-dancing fanatic dies without leaving a will, the race is on to find heirs to his valuable estate. The search for relatives of a South Shields lady reveals fascinating links to India and the Yemen. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
In Battersea in London, a retired insurance worker has died leaving a valuable estate. As the heir hunters track down relatives, there is an unwelcome surprise. Meanwhile, the case of a bus fanatic reveals the story of how a band of eagle-eyed servicemen defended Britain's shores. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
The search is on to find relatives of a south Londoner who overcame disability and tragedy to become a celebrated jazz singer. Meanwhile, on the valuable estate of a war veteran, the discovery of a mystery boy threatens to undermine weeks of research.
The case of a well-loved man from Tooting in London reveals he had ancestor who was one of Britain's early tobacco merchants. And a visit to a flat of a retired post office worker leads to a valuable discovery.
It is a case of deja vu for the heir hunters as they investigate an estate where relatives will be inheriting for the second time in three years. And the search is on for relatives of a boat fanatic.
The race is on to find relatives of a Kent lady, but her father's side of the family causes headaches for the team. And on a case with the most common surname in Wales, the team uncover the story of a naval hero.
Friends of a glamorous Battersea lady who travelled the world call in the heir hunters to try to find her family. And the search for relatives of a silk weaver's son is jeopardised by a surprise revelation
The work of the heir hunters leads to an emotional family reunion between an aunt and niece who have been estranged for 30 years, and a Dagenham lady uncovers a link to Whitechapel and the Jack the Ripper murders. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
It is a case of David v Goliath as one heir hunter competes against much larger firms on a valuable case in Cheshire, while the search for relatives of an east London lady reveals a family connection to themost famous heist of the 20th century. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
A surprise phone call gets the heir hunters searching for relatives of a well-loved Leicestershire lady. While on another high-value case, the team learns how the Industrial Revolution impacted on traditionalVictorian bakeries. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
A new lead opens up on a case that has been unsolved for 24 years, but will it be the clue the heir hunters have been waiting for? Meanwhile, the search for heirs of a Romford lady reveals a link to the storythat inspired the film Made in Dagenham. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
Heir hunters search for beneficiaries to a £100,000 estate and discover a surprise connection to gun making in Birmingham, while the case of a Fulham man who had Indian ancestry proves a major challenge for the team. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
The search is on for relatives of a south London lady, but there is a surprise twist in store for the heir hunters. On another highly intriguing case, the team uncover the remarkable story of a man who led a double life. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
A council is looking for relatives of a retired builder, and the heir hunters take on the case. But faced with a large family and a common surname, it is a nightmare search. On the estate of a Chelsea man, the chances of finding any living heir seem to be running out fast. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
The search is on for relatives of a lady from Lambeth, but there is a major question mark over the value of her estate. And as heir hunters try to crack a 26-year-old case, they uncover a sad and surprising family secret. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
As the heir hunters take on a case worth almost half a million pounds, one relative gets a life-changing knock at the door, and heirs to the estate of a popular Sussex man learn about their remarkable grandfather, a priest in the British Orthodox church. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
As the team race to find the heirs of a man from Margate, they discover he was estranged from his family and led a life shrouded in mystery. The heir hunters also take on the case of a Cambridgeshire man who was a legend in the sport of tug of war. Plus details of two unclaimed estates where heirs still need to be found.
Retired postman Melvin Barker may have appeared to have led a modest life, but an unexpected discovery means he could have been a secret millionaire with a vast fortune to pass on to his forgotten family. In searching for beneficiaries to his estate, the heir hunters also uncover a tragedy in the family, after discovering an uncle who worked as a trawler man was part of the crew of a ship which went missing at sea, leaving its 16 sailors presumed dead. Meanwhile, there is also the tricky case of Trevor Rawlinson where some good old-fashioned detective work by the heir hunters reveals a huge family tree.
The case of Charlie Graves is a race against the clock. Having recently passed away, his close friends got in touch with the heir hunters in the hope they could track down family members in time to attend his funeral. In delving into his family tree, Michael Buerk and the heir hunters discover that Charlie worked in the printing presses and was involved in one of the most protracted and bitter industrial disputes in British history. Meanwhile, the intriguing case of Roy Panther uncovers the extraordinary story of a man whose unlikely hobby made sure his mark was left not only in this world, but shining bright in the universe.
The search for heirs to the estate of James Cheetham reveals a family history of both great strength and sadness. A sporting legend is discovered in the family tree, as well as the tragedy of one of Britain's worst transport disasters which took the lives of some of his family and revealed the heroism of another family member. The case of John Donaghy sees Michael Buerk and the heir hunters take a gamble that could send them down the path to disaster and uncovers an uncle involved in greyhound racing in its prime.
Michael Buerk and the heir hunters take on the high-value estate of much-loved entertainer Gerald Bryce, who worked at one of Britain's popular holiday camps in its heyday. But with high stakes comes a big gamble that could end up being a complete waste of time and resources. The case of Elizabeth McGill stalls when the heir hunters discover her only daughter has already died and the search throws up some unexpected hurdles and a double inheritance windfall.
Whilst on the verge of finding heirs in line to a significant inheritance from John Clench, Michael Buerk and the Heir Hunters uncover a family secret that throws everything on its head diverting the money in a different direction, but a family reunion makes it all worthwhile. While the case of Roy Rogerson reveals a man with a passion for cricket and uncovers the fascinating but dangerous career path of his grandfather leaving the heirs desperate to find out more.
Michael Buerk follows the heir hunters as they take on a very valuable estate. Alexander Gibb left behind not one, but two valuable properties and the search for his heirs uncovers great country estates and a history of landed gentry. Meanwhile, new certificates connected to the case of Robert Heavens reveal a surprising family secret and long lost family members, leaving the heir hunters to start their search again.
Michael Buerk follows the team as they take on the case of John Powney, whose passion for music and vast record collection could lead to unexpected riches for his heirs. Meanwhile a mistake on a birth certificate sends the Heir Hunters on the wrong path in the search for beneficiaries to Alan John Lewis's estate, but their hard work pays off when they ultimately find over 70 heirs.
Working on the fascinating case of Maureen Newydomyi, Michael Buerk and the Heir Hunters locate an heir living in one of the most famous and recognisable addresses in the world. Their search for beneficiaries reveals a family member with a bad conduct military record, and it turns out another heir has a lot more in common with his grandfather than the team could have expected. Plus the Heir Hunters are called in to track down family members who could inherit a substantial windfall from the estate of Christopher Cole, despite there being a valid will in place.
There is tough competition for the high-value estate of Richard Thomas Evans, so Michael Buerk and the team have to pool all their resources to stay on track. They uncover a war hero who died in a tragic accident, and an unexpected twist at the end of their search turns everything on its head. Plus the high-value case of Wallace Pilmoor reveals how chocolate transformed the lives and fortunes of a whole community, while the family was hit with the tragic infant deaths of three of Wallace's cousins.
With very little information to go on, Michael Buerk and the Heir Hunters get down to good old-fashioned detective work and hit the road knocking on doors in the hope of finding beneficiaries to the estate of Dorothy Caines. Their search discovers an unusual occupation of a bell hanger and brings back fond memories for the heirs. Plus the case of Edward Burridge gets off to a false start with an illegitimate birth, while the search reveals a rags to riches story of a relative who was respected and loved by some of the biggest celebrities of the 20th century.
When a machine gun and rounds of live ammunition are discovered in the attic of Eileen Burgoyne's suburban home, Michael Buerk and the heir hunters uncover a shocking secret life of bravery and cunning as they track down heirs for this unlikely hero. Meanwhile, the search for beneficiaries to the estate of Nathan Koskovitch reveal links to a criminal past that help his heirs fill in the blanks of their family history.
There is a lot at stake on the high-value estate of illustrator Jean Crow, with a creative and artistic streak running throughout the family line. It takes all of Michael Buerk and the heir hunters' cunning and craftsmanship to beat their competition in tracking down her rightful heirs. Meanwhile, an illegitimate birth proves to be a tricky stumbling block to finding family members of Phillip Horsley, an undertaker and ex-air force serviceman, while the search for beneficiaries uncovers family members who succumbed to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
Michael Buerk and the heir hunters take on the case of Peter Kelly. A retired haulier with a large house, including a garden full of truck and cars, will any of these forgotten vehicles be the key to a large windfall, and will a search of his home uncover any hidden gems? And the case of Ivy Henshaw uncovers a rich family history involved in one of the most important British industries of the 19th century, and the search for heirs leads the team right back to where they started.
The case of David Liddell reveals an important clergyman in the family and significant wealth going back generations. But how much will be left to pass on to any family members the team can track down? An advert in the local paper set Michael Buerk and the heir hunters on the exciting trail to find family members to the late Andrew Hughes. But the team uncover an unusual career on the railways during their search.
The death of David Ray reveals how a father and son lived completely separate lives under the same roof for more than 50 years, and Michael Buerk and the heir hunters uncover a fascinating insight into a secretive religious sect. When the team finally track down long-lost relatives, the truth of a family tragedy is revealed, and the heirs are able to make sense of a secretive past. Meanwhile, the search for the heir to the estate of David Walker reveals astonishing acts of bravery in the face of adversity when a family member is involved in a dangerous rescue mission.
A member of the public tells a firm of probate researchers about a house left empty for years, leading Michael Buerk and the heir hunters to trace the next of kin to Elizabeth Dean. Initial clues hint towards a high-value estate but a surprising twist at the eleventh hour sees everything going to a very unlikely beneficiary. Meanwhile, while working on the case of Henry Arthur Coke, heir hunters uncover a colonial link to slavery.
Heir Hunters tracking down beneficiaries to the high-value estate of Marjorie Turner find their local knowledge pays off, but an unexpected twist proves that the real value of her legacy was reuniting long lost family. And the case of Freda Packman uncovers the intriguing history of one of the UK's first stunt pilots, as well as revealing several tragic stories on the paternal side of the family. But the sale of her property at auction brings good news for the heirs.
Michael Buerk and the team take on the high-value estate of Eileen Holmes. Research leads to a heroic cousin who was a founding member of the SAS and involved in some of the most daring campaigns of World War II. In the case of Audrey Barton, heir hunters discover she first married in her 80s and their search for beneficiaries leads to a family member honoured by the crown for his great contribution to the country.
After growing up with no contact with one side of her family, Michael Buerk and the team are able to help bring a family back together in the search for relatives of Joyce Copley. They discover a relative who, far from letting his blindness impede his life, became a great success because of it. Meanwhile, the case of John Trevor Hoyle reveals how a relative's career helped change public perception of disability guide dogs.
Michael Buerk and the heir hunters trace beneficiaries to Maureen Gallagher's estate, with a value of over a quarter of a million pounds, uncovering the fascinating histories of German nationals who were married to Brits during the two World Wars and the hardships it brought to their families. Plus an heir to the estate of Alan Hughes receives a surprise knock at the door.