The following is an announcement from C21 Media:
Who Do You Think You Are?, the hit BBC2 genealogy series from Wall to Wall, is moving to BBC1 when it returns for a third series. UKTV has also acquired the series, in a landmark deal with the indie.
The transfer to the BBC's premier channel follows a slate of shows such as What Not to Wear, Have I Got News for You and The Royal Family that have made the switch after being hits with viewers.
The series, which features names such as Jeremy Paxman and Sheila Hancock discovering their ancestors' pasts, was BBC2's highest rating show in 2004. The second series, which ended yesterday, has been achieving an average of 5.6 million viewers and a 23% share.
Peter Fincham, BBC1 controller, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity for BBC1 to continue to grow a great brand."
In a separate deal, BBC/Flextech joint venture UKTV has also acquired the series. The agreement marks the first time that the channel has bought a programme directly from an indie rather than from BBC Worldwide since the revised terms of trade.
The deal was signed by UKTV's head of acquisitions, Sarah Wright, and Wall to Wall's director of commercial and legal affairs, Claire Hungate.
The acquisition is part of a package that also includes the 12x30' series Reclaimers and the 7x30' series We've Got the Builders In.
Who Do You Think You Are? will air on UKTV History from this May as part of the Who's in Your History season. Reclaimers and We've Got the Builders In will premiere on UKTV Style later this year.
