The new series of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? will see Zoe Ball and Amy Dowden break down in tears as they face a series of family tragedies. 

The duo will be joined by the liked of Mr Bates vs the Post Office actor Toby Jones, who will make an 'astonishing discovery' as to his lineage in north India. 

Things will take an emotional turn for broadcaster Zoe, 55, as she unearths a tragedy about her family history in Cornwall.

Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy, 35, will be followed by the BBC cameras as they solve a murder, and find another story that hits very close to the recent experiences of her own life, according to The Mirror. 

The series, which sees famous faces step back in time with the help of experts to uncover their family's stories, will this time span centuries and see the celebrities journey across the UK, Australia, Tasmania, Italy, India, Kenya and the Bahamas.

Dancer Amy, who recently revealed she had beaten breast cancer, has been tipped to take a look at a story very similar to her own life as part of her episode.

Her look back into the past will also lead her to a West Wales farmhouse, and a valley named after one of her ancestors, according to the publication. 

Meanwhile, TV and radio presenter Zoe will look at both her Scottish and Cornish roots and on he way, discover a tragic tale of survival. 

Actor Toby, 59, will be lead to north India as part of his journey into the past, arriving at the location where his great-great-grandfather was stationed during his time with the British Army. 

Elsewhere, EastEnders actor and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Joe Swash will journey to southern Italy to uncover more about a 'dramatic' family story that details outlaws and their crimes. 

Olympic heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson will look back a her Bahamian family history, learning about their migration to Miami, USA, during segregation and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. 

And Doctor Who actress Ruth Madeley is said to dig out a secret family adoption that had long been buried, using DNA to uncover a long lost family member.  

BAFTA winning actor Adeel Akhtar will travel away from the UK in his episode, tracing his Indian-Kenyan roots by heading to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. 

Finally, Olivier and Emmy award winner Dame Harriet Walter is said to uncover the secret intelligence role one of her family members held during World War II, as well as a serious scandal for one her Italian ancestors.

A BBC insider told The Mirror: 'This series never fails to astonish and surprise. 

'And in all of the hidden histories it uncovers - aided by the generosity and openness of a simply exceptional cast - we can find a sample of the incredible richness and diversity that makes up modern Britain.'

The show's executive producer, Colette Flight, added: 'We see their astonishment, delight, laughter and tears as they discover how the incredible stories of their ancestors have shaped their family, and them.

'Along the way they learn about the dramatic social forces and historical events that impacted their families, from Victorian silent prisons to the American civil rights movement and from Italian brigands to bankruptcy.'

The series is in the works and tipped to return on BBC this spring, with four episodes launching, and a further four to come in the summer after a short break. 

It comes after comedian Diane Morgan was seen taking a catty swipe at the Who Do You Think You Are producers as she appeared on the BBC show. 

Last year, the comedian and actress, 49, explored her father's side of the family after he passed away six years ago. 

Diane certainly showed off her funny side as she talked to the camera about taking part in the programme, bringing up some of her work that has poked fun at the series. 

Sitting on a brown leather sofa, she cheekily said: 'This is what I can't understand about any of those shows, like this one, where people go on a journey, you know, you'd think people would stop using those tropes. 

'Even the tiny little things like walking past the camera... I wonder how much wondering aimlessly I'll be doing in this...' 

The actress added: 'So I wrote this comedy called Mandy, about this woman who can't hold a job down, in one episode she goes on Who Are You, Do You Think? Loosely based on Who Do You Think You Are.'

As the actress burst into laughter, a scene from the programme appeared on screen, as Diane's character Mandy could be seen in a jacuzzi Deborah Meaden. 

She concluded: 'I never thought in a million years you'd ask me to be on it.' 

The genealogy show, which follows famous faces as they find out about their family tree, hit our screens on the Beeb in 2004 and has had 177 episodes over 20 seasons. 

Who Do You Think You Are? is available to stream on BBC iPlayer