Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To not realise these celebs were related?!

454 replies

FingertipSearch · 02/02/2026 19:08

Found out today that Chris Packham and Jenny Packham are siblings, as are Clare Balding and Gordon Ramsey. Learn something every day!

OP posts:
AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 02/02/2026 23:05

Will.i.am has a sister called Gill.i.an who is an even bigger celebrity than he is, but in Paraguay, so she isn't well-known at all in the English-speaking world.

They don't get to see each other very often, but when their hectic work schedules allow, they love to get together for a few games of bill.i.ards.

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 23:04

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 02/02/2026 23:00

Robson and Professor Green are twins.

But it's a sore subject for poor Rob as he missed out on the degree grant, so instead had to resort to forming a band with his pal Jerome and singing mediocre covers to makes ends meet.

Speaking of Jermone - I hear he and Errol aren't speaking these days. Apparently it's because Jerome was kind of UK small fry until he landed Game of Thrones and now HE'S the famous actor. So it's put Errol's nose out of joint. He's trying to make out it's not an ego thing, more about his 'legacy' and 'how the fans feel'. Flynnsy excuse if you ask me.

Listinggracefully · 02/02/2026 23:00

Gregg Wallace is a descendent of the man who invented the sausage roll. The company in question doesn’t like to mention their connection to the greasy, flaky thing that’s full of shit.

A real one is that Oliver Platt and Princess Diana were second cousins once removed

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 02/02/2026 23:00

Robson and Professor Green are twins.

But it's a sore subject for poor Rob as he missed out on the degree grant, so instead had to resort to forming a band with his pal Jerome and singing mediocre covers to makes ends meet.

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 22:57

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 02/02/2026 22:56

Everybody knows about the line-up of top celebrities who started the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain; but few people are aware that Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy and Bruce Willis joined together and started their own successful chain of shoe shops many years previous to that.

Yessssss!

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 02/02/2026 22:56

Everybody knows about the line-up of top celebrities who started the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain; but few people are aware that Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy and Bruce Willis joined together and started their own successful chain of shoe shops many years previous to that.

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 22:55

Anne Hathaway (actress) is a direct descent of Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare's wife). She was so excited to find out that she immediately went out to buy the First Folio and read it in one sitting over several glasses of wine at her favourite budget-friendly pub chain (owned by her friend Reese). She was so inspired that she's setting her new film in that very pub, it's a modern take on Romeo and Juliet called: Bar-Crossed Lovers.

Her cousin wants to do the soundtrack but she's undecided as he's only had one hit and now he makes all of his family have it as their ringtone. Not everyone wants to hear 'What Is Love?' when their GP is calling with their smear results.

PoisedGoldBiscuit · 02/02/2026 22:54

positivelybedeviled · 02/02/2026 19:40

Gary Barlow is Ken Barlow's son

I quite literally LOL'd at this 🤣

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 02/02/2026 22:52

GreenRedFlowers · 02/02/2026 20:36

That reminds me of that old joke that if Jerry Hall had married Bryan Ferry (who she actually dated before Jagger) she'd have been Jerry Ferry.

If Gwyneth Paltrow had had a child with Brad Pitt, it would have been called Apple Pitt.

Show quote history

And the one about if Whoopi Goldberg had married Gerard Depardieu (not that anybody would ever wish that on her), she would have had a name that sounded like somebody screaming on a roller coaster!

Mere1 · 02/02/2026 22:52

JustGiveMeReason · 02/02/2026 19:27

Pleeeeeaaaassseeee bring back the laughing emoji MNHQ.

Please do.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 02/02/2026 22:48

willstarttomorrow · 02/02/2026 20:23

Nick Knowles off the TV show where they come to make over and wreck your house in 2 days, if you have been through some kind of trauma, is the cousin of Beyonce (Knowles). This is why her and Solange had a bust up in the lift because he popped over to the USA to rearrange queen B's kitchen cupboards to cheer her up when she had a bad review. Beyonce hated the way he rearranged her spice rack. Solange thought she was ungrateful and he wad trying his best. The crap music album Nick put out was his response to this. FACT!!!

This is a commonly believed myth: that Beyonce is the DD of either Nick Knowles or Eric Knowles (the antiques expert). In fact, she's actually the DD of Roy Castle from Record Breakers - but she took Knowles as her stage surname (she stuck a pin in the phone book) as 'apparently' Beyonce Castle wasn't a cool enough name.

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 22:46

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 02/02/2026 22:45

And they're also cousins of Gary Numan.

Show quote history

Genius.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 02/02/2026 22:45

MsSquiz · 02/02/2026 19:30

Gary Oldman and Laila Morse (Big Mo in Eastenders) are siblings

And they're also cousins of Gary Numan.

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 22:40

HopeSpringsInfernal · 02/02/2026 22:39

And his so Mosh, the raver

Show quote history

Who is their distant relative? Works in motor racing? Second name Stop?

HopeSpringsInfernal · 02/02/2026 22:39

And his son Mosh, the raver

HopeSpringsInfernal · 02/02/2026 22:39

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 22:33

And William the Elder.

Show quote history

And his so Mosh, the raver

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 22:38

Jim Carrey and Mariah Carey are second cousins - but the two sides of the family aren't close and so they only cross one another's paths briefly at awards ceremonies in Hollywood and the like, they are pleasant enough to one another. It's not a big deal. It's not like they carey.

pinkstripeycat · 02/02/2026 22:38

ThejoyofNC · 02/02/2026 19:21

I heard a rumour that Liam Hemsworth and Chris Hemsworth were related but I think it's just nonsense..

True

ChikinLikin · 02/02/2026 22:38

Andrew, the arsehole formerly known as Prince, was once believed to be the son of Freddie Mercury, Brian May and a couple of others, but is now thought to be the offspring of a sad pink and yellow cake and a dreary brown soup.

Arlanymor · 02/02/2026 22:33

Mansionscoldandgrey · 02/02/2026 22:32

Don't forget William, the younger

Show quote history

And William the Elder.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 02/02/2026 22:33

BlueEyedBogWitch · 02/02/2026 22:01

Tom Hardy is Oliver Hardy’s grandson, and they are both descended from Sir Thomas Hardy, whom Nelson snogged to death at the Battle of Trafalgar.

I thought Nelsons’ last words were ‘Kiss me Hardy - no tongues obviously’ !!

Mansionscoldandgrey · 02/02/2026 22:32

DotAndCarryOne2 · 02/02/2026 22:30

Brad Pitt has two brothers. Arm and Cess.

Don't forget William, the younger

DotAndCarryOne2 · 02/02/2026 22:30

Brad Pitt has two brothers. Arm and Cess.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 02/02/2026 22:27

HelenaWilson · 02/02/2026 19:35

Genuinely, Angela Lansbury was
Granddaughter of a leader of the Labour Party
For a time, sister in law of Peter Ustinov
Aunt of Oliver Postgate (Bagpuss, Clangers, Ivor the Engine).

My nephew brought the school’s pet spider home to look after for the school holidays. It was called Tarantula Lansbury.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 02/02/2026 22:22

HelenaWaiting · 02/02/2026 22:19

I've met their niece, Pearly.

Show quote history

She's a lovely girl. Has a brother called Closed but he's a bit shut off.

Swipe left for the next trending thread