History hungry Brummies are swamping Birmingham Central Library with requests to trace their family trees after watching a hit TV show.
Amateur researchers are ploughing through old records in search of lost family fortunes and famous ancestors.
It follows the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? series in which celebrities, including Birmingham-bred comedian Bill Oddie and Walsall writer Meera Syal, traced their roots.
Library resident genealogist Doreen Hopwood said: "We're getting a lot more enquiries since the TV programme started.
"It's made the subject more public and people are phoning up asking if we have certain records and how they can come and access them after watching the show."
Whether satisfying curiosity or hunting a lost fortune, people of all ages are now poring over documents from the Victoria Square library's vaults.
Engineer Robert Manders, aged 55, from Bartley Green, has 2,000 names on his family tree having used the library's archives to trace his roots back to 1711.
"I have traced my mum's side of the family called Shakespeare but haven't found any links with William, yet," he said.
* The library offers history workshops from 10.30am to noon on Saturdays, priced £5. Further details on 0121 303 3390.
l Has your family tree unearthed any pleasant surprises or nasty shocks? Write to The Editor, Evening Mail, PO Box 78, Weaman Street, Birmingham, B4 6AY, or eveningmail@mrn.co.uk
