Spencer family

The Spencer family is one of Britain's preeminent aristocratic families. Over time, several family members have been made knights, baronets, and peers. Hereditary titles held by the Spencers include the dukedom of Marlborough, the earldoms of Sunderland and Spencer, and the Churchill viscountcy. Two prominent members of the family during the 20th century were Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales.

History

Descent and claims

The family is descended in the male line from Henry Spencer (died c. 1478), claimed to be a descendant of the cadet branch of the ancient House Le Despencer. The descent of the family from the Medieval Despencers has been debunked, especially by Horace Round in his essay The Rise of the Spencers. The Spencers were granted a coat of arms in 1504 (Azure a fess Ermine between 6 sea-mews’ heads erased Argent) which bears no resemblance to that used by the family after c. 1595, which was derived from the Despencer arms. Round argued that the Despencer descent was fabricated by Richard Lee, a corrupt Clarencieux King of Arms. Citing Round, The Complete Peerage dismissed the alleged Despencer descent as an "elaborate imposture" which "is now incapable of deceiving the most credulous."

Spencer family (The Bold and the Beautiful)

The Spencer Family is a fictional family in the CBS Daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. They were introduced at the beginning of the show with the introduction of media mogul Bill Spencer, Sr. until his departure in 1994. Currently the family is represented by Bill's two living children Karen Spencer and Bill Spencer, Jr. and his grandchildren Wyatt Spencer, Caroline Spencer, Liam Spencer and Will Spencer. The Spencers own and run the international media conglomerate Spencer Publications.

First generation

The Bold and the Beautiful

The Bold and the Beautiful (often referred to as B&B) is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. It premiered on March 23, 1987 as a sister show to the Bells' other soap opera The Young and the Restless; several characters from each of the two shows have crossed over to the other since the early 1990s. Set in Los Angeles, California, the show centers upon the Forrester family and their fashion house business Forrester Creations.

The program features an ensemble cast, headed by its longest-serving actors John McCook as Eric Forrester and Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan. Since its premiere, the show has become the most-watched soap in the world, with an audience of an estimated 26.2 million viewers. As of 2010, it continues to hold on to the second-placed position in weekly Nielsen Ratings for daytime dramas. The Bold and the Beautiful has also won 31 Daytime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Drama Series in 2009 and again in 2010, as well as in 2011.