Heir Hunters - Season 12

Retired postman Melvin Barker may have appeared to have led a modest life, but an unexpected discovery means he could have been a secret millionaire with a vast fortune to pass on to his forgotten family. In searching for beneficiaries to his estate, the heir hunters also uncover a tragedy in the family, after discovering an uncle who worked as a trawler man was part of the crew of a ship which went missing at sea, leaving its 16 sailors presumed dead. Meanwhile, there is also the tricky case of Trevor Rawlinson where some good old-fashioned detective work by the heir hunters reveals a huge family tree.

The case of Charlie Graves is a race against the clock. Having recently passed away, his close friends got in touch with the heir hunters in the hope they could track down family members in time to attend his funeral. In delving into his family tree, Michael Buerk and the heir hunters discover that Charlie worked in the printing presses and was involved in one of the most protracted and bitter industrial disputes in British history. Meanwhile, the intriguing case of Roy Panther uncovers the extraordinary story of a man whose unlikely hobby made sure his mark was left not only in this world, but shining bright in the universe.

The search for heirs to the estate of James Cheetham reveals a family history of both great strength and sadness. A sporting legend is discovered in the family tree, as well as the tragedy of one of Britain's worst transport disasters which took the lives of some of his family and revealed the heroism of another family member. The case of John Donaghy sees Michael Buerk and the heir hunters take a gamble that could send them down the path to disaster and uncovers an uncle involved in greyhound racing in its prime.

Michael Buerk and the heir hunters take on the high-value estate of much-loved entertainer Gerald Bryce, who worked at one of Britain's popular holiday camps in its heyday. But with high stakes comes a big gamble that could end up being a complete waste of time and resources. The case of Elizabeth McGill stalls when the heir hunters discover her only daughter has already died and the search throws up some unexpected hurdles and a double inheritance windfall.

Whilst on the verge of finding heirs in line to a significant inheritance from John Clench, Michael Buerk and the Heir Hunters uncover a family secret that throws everything on its head diverting the money in a different direction, but a family reunion makes it all worthwhile. While the case of Roy Rogerson reveals a man with a passion for cricket and uncovers the fascinating but dangerous career path of his grandfather leaving the heirs desperate to find out more.

Michael Buerk follows the heir hunters as they take on a very valuable estate. Alexander Gibb left behind not one, but two valuable properties and the search for his heirs uncovers great country estates and a history of landed gentry. Meanwhile, new certificates connected to the case of Robert Heavens reveal a surprising family secret and long lost family members, leaving the heir hunters to start their search again.

Michael Buerk follows the team as they take on the case of John Powney, whose passion for music and vast record collection could lead to unexpected riches for his heirs. Meanwhile a mistake on a birth certificate sends the Heir Hunters on the wrong path in the search for beneficiaries to Alan John Lewis's estate, but their hard work pays off when they ultimately find over 70 heirs.

Working on the fascinating case of Maureen Newydomyi, Michael Buerk and the Heir Hunters locate an heir living in one of the most famous and recognisable addresses in the world. Their search for beneficiaries reveals a family member with a bad conduct military record, and it turns out another heir has a lot more in common with his grandfather than the team could have expected. Plus the Heir Hunters are called in to track down family members who could inherit a substantial windfall from the estate of Christopher Cole, despite there being a valid will in place.

There is tough competition for the high-value estate of Richard Thomas Evans, so Michael Buerk and the team have to pool all their resources to stay on track. They uncover a war hero who died in a tragic accident, and an unexpected twist at the end of their search turns everything on its head. Plus the high-value case of Wallace Pilmoor reveals how chocolate transformed the lives and fortunes of a whole community, while the family was hit with the tragic infant deaths of three of Wallace's cousins.

With very little information to go on, Michael Buerk and the Heir Hunters get down to good old-fashioned detective work and hit the road knocking on doors in the hope of finding beneficiaries to the estate of Dorothy Caines. Their search discovers an unusual occupation of a bell hanger and brings back fond memories for the heirs. Plus the case of Edward Burridge gets off to a false start with an illegitimate birth, while the search reveals a rags to riches story of a relative who was respected and loved by some of the biggest celebrities of the 20th century.

When a machine gun and rounds of live ammunition are discovered in the attic of Eileen Burgoyne's suburban home, Michael Buerk and the heir hunters uncover a shocking secret life of bravery and cunning as they track down heirs for this unlikely hero. Meanwhile, the search for beneficiaries to the estate of Nathan Koskovitch reveal links to a criminal past that help his heirs fill in the blanks of their family history.

There is a lot at stake on the high-value estate of illustrator Jean Crow, with a creative and artistic streak running throughout the family line. It takes all of Michael Buerk and the heir hunters' cunning and craftsmanship to beat their competition in tracking down her rightful heirs. Meanwhile, an illegitimate birth proves to be a tricky stumbling block to finding family members of Phillip Horsley, an undertaker and ex-air force serviceman, while the search for beneficiaries uncovers family members who succumbed to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.

Michael Buerk and the heir hunters take on the case of Peter Kelly. A retired haulier with a large house, including a garden full of truck and cars, will any of these forgotten vehicles be the key to a large windfall, and will a search of his home uncover any hidden gems? And the case of Ivy Henshaw uncovers a rich family history involved in one of the most important British industries of the 19th century, and the search for heirs leads the team right back to where they started.

The case of David Liddell reveals an important clergyman in the family and significant wealth going back generations. But how much will be left to pass on to any family members the team can track down? An advert in the local paper set Michael Buerk and the heir hunters on the exciting trail to find family members to the late Andrew Hughes. But the team uncover an unusual career on the railways during their search.

The death of David Ray reveals how a father and son lived completely separate lives under the same roof for more than 50 years, and Michael Buerk and the heir hunters uncover a fascinating insight into a secretive religious sect. When the team finally track down long-lost relatives, the truth of a family tragedy is revealed, and the heirs are able to make sense of a secretive past. Meanwhile, the search for the heir to the estate of David Walker reveals astonishing acts of bravery in the face of adversity when a family member is involved in a dangerous rescue mission.

A member of the public tells a firm of probate researchers about a house left empty for years, leading Michael Buerk and the heir hunters to trace the next of kin to Elizabeth Dean. Initial clues hint towards a high-value estate but a surprising twist at the eleventh hour sees everything going to a very unlikely beneficiary. Meanwhile, while working on the case of Henry Arthur Coke, heir hunters uncover a colonial link to slavery.

Heir Hunters tracking down beneficiaries to the high-value estate of Marjorie Turner find their local knowledge pays off, but an unexpected twist proves that the real value of her legacy was reuniting long lost family. And the case of Freda Packman uncovers the intriguing history of one of the UK's first stunt pilots, as well as revealing several tragic stories on the paternal side of the family. But the sale of her property at auction brings good news for the heirs.

Michael Buerk and the team take on the high-value estate of Eileen Holmes. Research leads to a heroic cousin who was a founding member of the SAS and involved in some of the most daring campaigns of World War II. In the case of Audrey Barton, heir hunters discover she first married in her 80s and their search for beneficiaries leads to a family member honoured by the crown for his great contribution to the country.

After growing up with no contact with one side of her family, Michael Buerk and the team are able to help bring a family back together in the search for relatives of Joyce Copley. They discover a relative who, far from letting his blindness impede his life, became a great success because of it. Meanwhile, the case of John Trevor Hoyle reveals how a relative's career helped change public perception of disability guide dogs.

Michael Buerk and the heir hunters trace beneficiaries to Maureen Gallagher's estate, with a value of over a quarter of a million pounds, uncovering the fascinating histories of German nationals who were married to Brits during the two World Wars and the hardships it brought to their families. Plus an heir to the estate of Alan Hughes receives a surprise knock at the door.