The BBC has ordered a second series of popular celebrity genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?

The first series was a massive ratings winner for BBC Two, with a peak of over 7 million viewers and an average audience of 5 million. The show also managed the feat of usurping traditional ratings dominator Wife Swap on Channel 4.

"Who Do You Think You Are? has had a fantastic impact and has really captured the public's imagination," said BBC Two controller Roly Keating.

"The cleverness of the programme is that it taps into a popular pastime, brings unexpected subjects into the mainstream and works on many levels - personal, social, historical.

"You never know what it will discover and we're looking forward to lots more surprises."

The new series of six episodes will air early next year.