To many Alexander Armstrong is best known for being the host of BBC daytime quiz show Pointless. The 53-year-old, who was born in Rothbury, has been on our screens as a presenter, actor and comedy star since the late '90s.
Over the course of his career, Alexander has appeared in countless television programmes including Danger Mouse and The Sarah Jane Adventures. He is also one half of comedy double act Armstrong and Miller (with Ben Miller).
Alexander’s next venture takes him to Sri Lanka, where he'll explore the paradise island of the Pacific Ocean in a new three-part Channel 5 series. The new programme is the third in a series of documentaries from the presenter, who previously explored Iceland and South Korea in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
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But who is Alexander married to, which royal is he a descendant of, who is the comedian that he has family ties to and what TV job did he turn down? Here’s everything you need to know. For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter here.
Who is Alexander Armstrong married to?
Alexander has been married to Hannah Bronwen Snow since August 2003. The couple share four children together and live in Oxfordshire.
Who is Alexander Armstrong a descendant of?
During an episode of BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? Alexander discovered that he is a descendant of William the Conqueror. He is also distantly related to William Armstrong, founder of Cragside whose family still own Bamburgh Castle.
During the same episode Alexander found out that he has links to Edward Somerset, the sixth Earl and second Marquess of Worcester. He was told that Somerset was one of the monarchy's biggest supporters during the Civil War, which broke out in 1642. His ancestor loaned King Charles I, funds worth £70 million in today's money - read more about that here.
Which comedian is Alexander Armstrong related to through marriage?
Alexander’s wife Hannah is the sister of journalist and food blogger Esther Walker, who is married to restaurant critic Giles Coren - the brother of Victoria Coren Mitchell, who herself is married to comedian David Mitchell.
What TV job did Alexander Armstrong turn down?
Last year Alexander revealed that he turned down the chance to host Channel 4 daytime show Countdown. The job was offered to him when Des O’Connor stepped down in 2008.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain's Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins, he explained: "I did turn down Countdown. I took it very seriously, well it's a job, I take everything seriously that I am offered.
"I felt Countdown was a very revered format and I got the sense that there wasn't going to be a lot of leeway to muck about with it and Pointless is all mucking about really."
He added: “I wouldn't have been able to do both. Pointless was my little treat for saying no to Countdown, but it was a really tough call because they were such nice people and I love Countdown.
"But I wanted to do something that was a little bit more… basically I had kind of stopped doing comedy by then and I wanted something that would have a bit of comedy in it." Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka airs on Channel 5 at 9pm on Thursday, May 18.
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