A Wizard Time

- Caren Clark

As one of our finest actors and an influential activist for gay rights, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit star Sir Ian McKellen was thrilled to discover that he had both thespian roots and a social campaigner in his family tree as he travelled back to his native north-west of England for this week’s returning Who Do You Think You Are?

Here, the 77-year-old tells us more about his discoveries…

Why did you take part in the series?

I’d been asked before, but I said no because I didn’t want to cry in public. But my friend [and