John Bishop visits Winsford as part of ITV's DNA Journey

The comedian, along with actor Hugh Bonneville, visited Winsford as part of popular ITV programme DNA Journey, which aired on Tuesday, March 7.

While in the town, they met DNA expert and historian Dr Michala Hulme – who lives in Northwich – to find out more about John’s family.

The episode follows the pair as the exit the M6 at junction 18 and continue to Winsford.

John said he was ‘properly thrown’ when he ended up driving past his old school (Willow Wood Community Primary School) and through estate where he had once lived.

Although he was born in Liverpool, John grew up in Winsford after his house was knocked down in Liverpool.

Many other people in the city made the same journey, with John saying that is why his accent remained strong.

John Bishop (Image: PA images)

John tells Hugh: “Look at that road sign there that says, ‘Severn Walk’.

“That’s brand new, and the reason that’s brand new is when I did my first arena gig, my brother came in and said, ‘I’ve got something for you’.

“And he handed me this big, long thing and I unwrapped it and he said ‘it’s so you don’t forget where you’re from’.

John said he still has the road sign hanging in his kitchen to this day.

They continue to the Compass Minerals site and travel down the mines to meet Michala where she revealed the location’s link to John’s great-great-great grandad.

DNA expert Michala has been involved in previous series of DNA Journey, plus other programmes, but has never filmed an episode so close to home.

She said: “I’ve never been in the mines before – obviously living locally I knew about them, but I’ve never been in them.

“It was so strange when it was filmed five minutes from my doorstep.

“John and Hugh were really interested in history.

“What’s nice is when you get two people who are really invested and know a bit about their family tree but not that much.”

Dr Michala Hulme (Image: Supplied)

The episode was filmed last year but the research takes place months before that.

Michala explained: “I’ve done Who Do You Think You Are, but it’s a bit different than that because we use DNA, so it’s not just linear family, we have a bigger pool to work with.

“You’re dealing with families and their lives.

“When you start researching and looking into it, you become invested in it, even though it’s not your own family.

“What is great about this show is you’ve got a real mix of light of dark - it’s about two mates or siblings going on a journey together.”

Michala is a historian at the University of Birmingham and a specialist in the 19th century.

But it wasn’t until she began researching her own family tree that her passion for history revealed itself.

“I never really had a major interest in history at school,” she said.

“It wasn’t until I left school and started researching my family tree that it became personal for me.”

DNA Journey continues at 9pm on Tuesdays.

John and Hugh’s episode is available on catch up now.