Prime Minister Boris Johnson Traces His Family History | Who Do You Think You Are

Boris Johnson discusses his diverse ancestry, noting Russian, Lithuanian, German, French, and English roots. He embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind stories of his paternal grandparents, referred to as 'granddaddy' and 'granny butter'.

Boris recounts the family belief that his granny Martha (Granny Butter) had distinguished French Alsatian antecedents. He then delves into the surprising fact that his grandfather, Wilfred Johnson, a seemingly typical English farmer, was in fact half Turkish. Wilfred's father was Ali Kemal, a politician and journalist, whose untimely death was a subject Wilfred never discussed.

Boris meets with his father, Stanley, who reveals Wilfred's birth certificate. It shows Wilfred's original name was Osman Wilfred Kemal, born on September 4, 1909. Ali Kemal was not present at the birth, as Wilfred's mother died in childbirth. His maternal grandmother, Margaret Brun (later Johnson), raised Wilfred and his sister Selma.

While Ali Kemal lived and worked in Turkey, Margaret Johnson decided to change her grandchildren's surname from Kemal to Johnson. A letter from the Home Office dated October 4, 1916, confirms that Wilfred was a British subject by birth and required no permission to change his name. Boris playfully imagines his identity if the name had remained Kemal.

Boris reflects on his great-grandfather Ali Kemal, a journalist and politician. He decides to travel to Turkey, Ali Kemal's birthplace, to discover more about his life and the circumstances of his death, a mystery that has long intrigued him.