Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber is a global superstar of musical theatre, still writing and producing blockbuster shows. He has also combined his nose for business with his love of architecture by renovating the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to its original condition. Andrew knows he comes from a musical family, including virtuoso cellist brother, Julian – but he'd love to find out where his showbiz genes and his love of musical theatre come from.
A quick investigation of his own archive reveals a much posher lineage than expected. By following his mother's line, Andrew soon uncovers his four-times great Uncle Peregrine, who played a key role under Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Peregrine in turn leads Andrew to his 12-times great-grandmother Katherine Willoughby, a Tudor duchess and powerful player in Henry VIII's court who was later persecuted and threatened with death for her religious beliefs. As her dramatic life unfolds, Andrew is not only astonished by her determination and resilience but delighted to learn of her association with some of Britain's most architecturally important stately homes.
Next, Andrew investigates his father's side – a much humbler line, with both his grandfather and great-grandfather working as plumbers. With the help of his cousin Anne, he discovers his two-times great-grandfather Henry Simmonds was a missionary who dedicated his life to helping the poor and needy. Described as a ‘real working-class hero', Andrew is thrilled to find out that Henry was the author of the first architectural guide to Battersea.
Andrew still wants to uncover any musical links, and with the help of genealogist Laura Berry, he finally traces more musicians in the family, including his five-times great-grandfather Henry who has the curious surname Magito – which Andrew soon learns is Dutch. What follows next is a series of extraordinary resonances with Andrew's own life - an extended family of Magitos, who were not only accomplished musicians, but also showmen and producers making their living by staging the 18th-century equivalent of musical theatre.
But the coincidences don't stop there. More investigation proves his five-times grandfather Henry Magito had a brother, Alexis Magito, who was also a cellist. A trip to Leiden uncovers a long-lost sonata written by Alexis that reveals he was an accomplished composer and player for the cello. Andrew can't wait to return to London to meet with his younger brother Julian and share the extraordinary coincidences of their shared ancestry.
Trailer
Recently Updated Shows
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation
The cast of Jersey Shore swore they would always do a vacation together. Now, five years, five kids, three marriages, and who knows how many GTL sessions later, the gang is back together and on vacation in a swanky house in Miami Beach.
The Chicken Sisters
The Chicken Sisters is a family drama dipped in southern charm and served up with a saucy side of romance. The setting is the fictional town of Merinac, where a generations-old rift between dueling fried chicken restaurants – Mimi's and Frannie's – has left the founders' families fractured and the locals taking sides. When popular cooking competition show Kitchen Clash comes to town, this could be the recipe for ending this feud once and for all. But things are fixing to heat up both inside and outside of the kitchen as the reality show spotlight causes sparks to fly as secrets are spilled and feathers get ruffled.
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta
The city's hip hop elite are about to have their lives changed in ways they never imagined - for better or for worse! In the music mecca of the South, artists rise and fall, families grow and are torn apart, and what goes around - definitely comes around. These players continue to be on the cutting edge of the good, bad and naughty side of love. Returning fan favorites will be joined by some new faces on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.
Beyond the Gates
Beyond the Gates is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States. Here you'll find a posh gated community with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions to call home. At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those that live outside these gates are watching closely. These are the places where our characters live, love, work and play. Those who have "made it" and those who haven't are all trying to navigate life … and some with more grace than others.
The Great Food Truck Race
The Great Food Truck Race is headed to the Wild West, where host Tyler Florence welcomes seven teams of brand new food truck operators as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Just like the pioneers, they'll be using some of the West's most distinct ingredients in challenges that test their culinary skills. Each week, they'll race across the desert landscape to a new town where they'll face new challenges, cook incredible dishes and, as always, try to outsell the competition. The team that earns the least will have to walk away from the wagon trail, but the two teams that have the grit make it to the end will square off for the $50,000 prize.