Flying tonight

John Simpson's co-workers will be glued to the tv tonight for World Editor's edition of Who Do You Think You Are? - if only to clock the air miles.

According to programme trails, John wishes to clarify the story of his "great grandfather", Samuel Cody, Buffalo Bill-rip-off artist and aviator. Except that Samuel Franklin Cowdery, his real name, never actually married John's great grandmother, had no children with her, and a battle over his will gave the estate to his previous American family. Still, it might be worth a stateside trip to make sure... 

Down another line, John finds that great-great grandad John King was landlord of the Queen's Head in Chelsea.  This has been a predominantly gay pub since the 1950s - will John be seen at the bar ?

0845 Thursday update: Fair play to John - no overseas budgets were damaged in the making of this programme. And he went to the pub, but it was empty.