Quails Fine Foods uncover famous family connections in new television series

Quails Fine Foods uncover famous family connections in new television series
Gavin Andrews (left) is pictured with Noah, Fionn, Phil Walker and Caroline Quail.

A popular Banbridge business family are set to discover their ancestral roots in the new series of BBC One’s Family Footsteps.

With 125 years in business, the Quail family are well-known and trusted County Down butchers, who have enjoyed notable awards success over the years.

From their farm-fresh beef aged with Himalayan salt to homemade sausages, burgers and pies, they continue to be at the top of their game with Quails Fine Foods in Banbridge a must-visit destination.

In the first episode of the latest series of Family Footsteps, presenter Gavin Andrews takes the Quail/Walker family on a genealogical journey to discover their Ulster-Scots roots and how their ancestors lived at the beginning of the 20th century.

Teenagers Noah and Fionn are put to work ploughing with horses and pulling flax while their mum, Art teacher Caroline tries her hand at cooking pig’s heart with chef Paula McIntyre.

Dad, Phil finds out what it was like to be a butcher in a Belfast market in 1900 while grandad Desmond delves into the family archives and takes a step towards uncovering a famous ancestry he knows nothing about.

The three-part series Family Footsteps starts on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer on Monday 15th May at 8pm, with the full series available on BBC iPlayer from this time. Family Footsteps is a Waddell Media production for BBC Northern Ireland made with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund.

(from left) Gavin Andrews, Professor William Jenkins (York University, Toronto), Caroline Quail and Desmond Quail.