Like others on here, I thought with the last series "they" had got back on the right formula again, actually going back in time, rather than spending time "playing" at doing a (usually very recent) ancestor's day job!
No idea myself about Charles Dance's ancestry, just think he's a rather good actor! Not heard of all the others, but - I've made a note to watch the series. No chance of ever encountering anyone related to my lot cropping up, but really enjoy most of them. Probably will get irritated at Ruby Wax, I suspect......