Heir Hunters
Encyclopedia
Heir Hunters is a BBC
television programme focusing on attempts to find missing or unknown heirs, entitled to deceased people's estates before the British Treasury
lawfully collects the money. The show follows the work of Probate research
ers from a number of different firms to show how the results of time-consuming research turned out. It was announced in 2011 that Heir Hunters would be switched from BBC One
daytime to primetime television on BBC Two
that autumn.
, while all subsequent series are narrated by Lisa Faulkner
.
The series ran as part of BBC One
's weekday lineup in the early morning factual slot (9.15 am - 10 am), alongside shows including Animal 24:7 and Helicopter Heroes
. The second series had record viewing numbers for the time slot and beat the Jeremy Kyle
show on ITV consistently during its run, prompting the BBC to immediately recommission a third series.
The title cards for the 2008 and later series spell 'Heir Hunters' as 'H£ir Hunt£rs', using the pound sterling sign as a capital E. In each programme of the first two series three unclaimed estates from Bona Vacantia
are mentioned in the hope of information being given by a viewer which could help find an heir or heirs. One of these mentioned in the first series resulted in information that led to some heirs being found for an estate.
The term "Heir Hunter" has become known to refer to any person or firm who tracks down beneficiaries to estates of deceased persons. "Heir hunters" may also be known as probate detectives, probate research
ers, heir searchers, or forensic genealogists.
The series has been repeated on the UKTV channels Watch
and Yesterday.
In 2011 it began to be transmitted on the History Channel in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
From 21 November - 2 December 2011, ten re-versioned episodes of series 5 were shown on BBC 2 at 7pm each weekday. The expanded episodes have an increased duration of 59 minutes and feature Lisa Faulkner
on camera for the first time interviewing experts and Heir Hunters.
Repeats of series 2 followed series 3 in August 2009 and repeats of series 3 preceded series 4 in early 2010, and series 3 was repeated again in August/September 2010.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television programme focusing on attempts to find missing or unknown heirs, entitled to deceased people's estates before the British Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
lawfully collects the money. The show follows the work of Probate research
Probate research
Probate research deals with finding heirs and proving their right to an inheritance. In some estates there may be no known heirs, or there may be missing heirs whose names are known but their contact information is not. There may be also be known heirs from one part of the family, but another part...
ers from a number of different firms to show how the results of time-consuming research turned out. It was announced in 2011 that Heir Hunters would be switched from BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
daytime to primetime television on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
that autumn.
Description
The series is made by Flame TV. The first series was presented by Nadia SawalhaNadia Sawalha
Nadia Sawalha is an English actress and television presenter.Sawalha is perhaps best known for her role as Annie Palmer in the BBC soap opera EastEnders during the 1990s, although most of her television work is now as a presenter rather than an actress...
, while all subsequent series are narrated by Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Tamsin Faulkner is an English actress and television personality.-Early life:Faulkner was educated at Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames.When Faulkner was 16, her mother, Julie, died of cancer...
.
The series ran as part of BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's weekday lineup in the early morning factual slot (9.15 am - 10 am), alongside shows including Animal 24:7 and Helicopter Heroes
Helicopter Heroes
Helicopter Heroes is a British daytime television series, following the lifesaving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. First screened on BBC One in 2007, its first presenter was Top Gears Richard Hammond...
. The second series had record viewing numbers for the time slot and beat the Jeremy Kyle
Jeremy Kyle
Jeremy Kyle is an English radio and television presenter, best known for his British daytime television chat show on ITV, The Jeremy Kyle Show. Kyle is also the host of an American talk show of the same name that premiered on 19 September 2011.-Radio career:From 1986 to 1995, Kyle worked as a...
show on ITV consistently during its run, prompting the BBC to immediately recommission a third series.
The title cards for the 2008 and later series spell 'Heir Hunters' as 'H£ir Hunt£rs', using the pound sterling sign as a capital E. In each programme of the first two series three unclaimed estates from Bona Vacantia
Bona vacantia
Bona vacantia is a legal concept associated with property that has no owner. It exists in various jurisdictions, with consequently varying application, but with origins mostly in English law.-Canada:...
are mentioned in the hope of information being given by a viewer which could help find an heir or heirs. One of these mentioned in the first series resulted in information that led to some heirs being found for an estate.
The term "Heir Hunter" has become known to refer to any person or firm who tracks down beneficiaries to estates of deceased persons. "Heir hunters" may also be known as probate detectives, probate research
Probate research
Probate research deals with finding heirs and proving their right to an inheritance. In some estates there may be no known heirs, or there may be missing heirs whose names are known but their contact information is not. There may be also be known heirs from one part of the family, but another part...
ers, heir searchers, or forensic genealogists.
The series has been repeated on the UKTV channels Watch
Watch (TV channel)
Watch is a general entertainment channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as part of the UKTV network. The channel launched on 7 October 2008 on satellite through Sky and on cable primarily through Virgin Media.-History:...
and Yesterday.
In 2011 it began to be transmitted on the History Channel in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
From 21 November - 2 December 2011, ten re-versioned episodes of series 5 were shown on BBC 2 at 7pm each weekday. The expanded episodes have an increased duration of 59 minutes and feature Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Tamsin Faulkner is an English actress and television personality.-Early life:Faulkner was educated at Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames.When Faulkner was 16, her mother, Julie, died of cancer...
on camera for the first time interviewing experts and Heir Hunters.
Transmissions
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Repeats of series 2 followed series 3 in August 2009 and repeats of series 3 preceded series 4 in early 2010, and series 3 was repeated again in August/September 2010.