Yes, I saw the Julian Clary programme - and it was a bit weird, to say the least. I really couldn't see why he should make such a fuss about having German ancestors - especially as all the modern-day Germans, who helped him, appeared to be impeccably polite and spoke equally impeccable English!
This programme, with its odd xenophobic flavour, was a complete contrast to the very moving programmes about Jeremy Paxman, Stephen Fry and Sheila Hancock.

On the subject of being British, and specifically being English, try a book called 'Britain AD' by the great archeologist, Francis Pryor (pub. Harper Perennial, 2005). This book is guaranteed to overturn everything that you thought you knew about British/English history.
Although Julian Clary might have German ancestors it turns out that most of us are probably not the 'Germans' (ie. 'Anglo Saxons') we thought we were. In my view this has no political/racial connotations whatsoever - it's just interesting, that's all!