General Chat

Roger, I agree that it is the experts (or programme makers) who decide who to follow. Of course it is the programmes editors who decide what will be aired.

I wonder if other family members are actually investigated and how much info. is given to the celeb. in question each week.

I hope it isn't just an ego trip, or another chance to appear on tv.

Would be good to know that the participants really are interested in finding out about their ancestors.

Having said that, I will continue watching, and thought that tonights offering was ok. not great but ok.

At least last nights episode didnt go off on a tangent.
They can't possibly fit a whole family tree into the time slot,and this at least went back over 200 years to some interesting characters.
I did wonder why they wasted time going to the sports studio with him,but they didnt spend a load of money going abroad.
Thought it could encourage younger people to search for family roots.
Are we getting complacent and expecting something really special each time?

Have not even watched last night's yet. Just first 15 mins and fell asleep.:-\

Sounds as if it picked up a bit from his gt gt grandfather poaching.

I doubt he did it for ego reasons. He was a millionaire footballer before it became fashionable and rumours are that he earns £2m pa off BBC for football presentation. And he gets all his crisps free. He is more high profile than Wills, Kate and George. :-) :-)

OH who sits watching in sufferance said that he enjoyed that one, and he doesn’t follow football.

I agree that there was a certain amount of padding

- footage of people photographing him at Leicester railway station
- the indoor football kick around at Christchurch School and their photo session
- the section at the BBC Sport studio.

On the other hand, he wasn’t all teary when he discovered that several children of the Law Writer had died, or shocked that one ancestor was a Poacher for the Pot. Mind you, as the PC on one occasion went straight to his house, he might have been known to have sold them on!

Wondered how long it would take him to mention
crisps in the programme.
Disappointed at the start when his family tree was
shown to him, thought why bother now it had been
done for him.
Some of these shown so far have been interesting
but think the programme makers need to let the people
find out for themselves with a little help, after all that to
me is what it's all about.

Emma :-)

I found it very boring :-( I still think they should use real people I have read more about peoples trees and tales from their family history on here :-D

Watched rest of programme tonight about Gary Lineker. Yes, boring. Best bits were the ones that DET calls padding.

One of the most interesting bits for me was the Stationers Hall. I have always assumed that a "stationer" on a census or marriage cert etc was a shopkeeper. Need to look more into these Guilds and trade associations.

Morning everyone just a reminder for tonight.
Nick Hewer.

Next week it is Nitin Ganatra of Eastenders and I
believe it is going to be an emotional journey for
him.

Emma :-)

My OH tells me that Nick is a very pleasant man - and quite small!! He used to visit her school when she was an Administrator in Northamptonshire and must live fairly locally.

Though I must admit I am looking forward to next week more. Just hope Nick comes across beter than Gary Crisp-Walker last week :-) ;-)

Have to admit I have never heard of Nick Hewer or Nitin Ganatra

Its the start of the ones I know nothing about - so will watch and make my decision once the programme has aired.

Just to buck the trend I enjoyed the Gary Linaker programme - he seemed very nervous - i think his family made him do it.

I dont think it was worth them sending Lesley Sharp to Canada

I like watching the "Celebs" its fun most of the time even if you have no idea who they are. I enjoy the American ones a lot more these days.

There was a show i started watching on one of the sky channels but it had ordinary people & their trees -

It was one of the worst programmes i have ever seen - some of them were so boring (thats the actual person, not the tree or their ancestor) they just droned on & on about nothing. Some gushed about how important they felt as they had completed several branches all on their own & some were just downright obnoxious.

Just to state this is all my own opinion - I am sure others found it very interesting but they did drop it after only a few programmes so i have been told by another member on another thread a while ago.

Give me a celeb or unknown celeb any day they always seem to be happy for people to help or sort things out for them & if its acting or not pleased with what is found sometime pretend surprise too.


I would love to have a professional help me with a brick wall or two but cant afford it

Always look forward to watching WDYTYA although not too keen on Nick Hewer ....(host of Countdown at the moment) as, sorry, he bores me ...but I'm prepared for surprises :-)

He's mentioned living in Ireland and I think he attended public school.
Not heard of Nitin Ganatra

Well he had has Family tree done for him.

But I like putting bones on my tree so enjoyed this one and he was interested in the two rellies he did and how they got on in difficult times in they lives.

A good one for me.

Presumably his HEWER ancestors were rooted in farming in Wiltshire and were boring - we were not told, were we?

Two fascinating glimpses at very troubled times. The Catholic/Presbyterian marriage at beginning of troubles and a Catholic rising to be High Sherriff of Belfast. He looked a very charming and successful man, a bit like Nick, I thought.

And I am now fascinated with the Civil War and which side my various rellies were on. If there was a big dispute between the Queen and Parliament these days, which side would we support. We pray "God save the Queen or King", so why were Cromwell and his followers (all supposedly devout Christians) so anti the monarchy? Must try to find all that out.

It was a very ‘meaty’ programme. It was interesting how the researchers were able to link his line into pre-prepared family trees. If only we could be so fortunate! Would we have tried to double check it or accept the trees as truth?

Although they tried to explain the Irish Question, with the addition of other factions I’m even more confused!

Next week is Nitin Ganatra. Apparently he is an actor in Eastenders; we haven’t watched that for years. He wants to know why his family left Kenya when he was three years old. As a British Kenyan Asian, you’d have thought he know! Work friends last met about 15 years ago still thought of Kenya as ‘Home’.

Had to record this last night as was out to the theatre.
Doesn't look too interesting on what has been said.

Emma

Still have no idea who he is or anything

I enjoyed the 2nd part very interesting - got fed up with the first part far too political & too recent for me.

I too would love to know where mine & hubby's family stood in the civil war - I am sure my side were plebs but OH side had a few nobles - will need to do some more digging one day.

I think there are just 4 left now - its gone very quick this series - the chappy who I now know is in Eastenders - I haven't watched since dirty Den & Angie - the good old days - John Simpson who I think is something to do with the news - Marianne Faithfull who was something to do with the 60's and a singer but no idea really & a woman called Millican I have never heard of.

Oh, Tabitha. You are talking about two women I adore. For different reasons. Marianne Faithful was one of the most desirable women of my youth - unfortunately Mick Jagger was smitten before me. Lovely voice and exceptionally pretty, though has had quite a hard life since. But still a great character and plenty of noble blood probably. Seem to remember her mother was titled.

And Sarah Millican is one of funniest stand ups at present. I am expecting hers to be all working class and coal mines and ship yards. But we never know. Gary Crisp-Walker (the footballer) had a churchman in his lineage :-)

I found this one interesting, his grandparents were married the same years as my Grandparents and much the same but theirs was in Belfast and mind England however my Grandfather married my RC Gran and his mother wouldn't sign as he was only 20 so he lied on their marriage lines about this age.

I didn't think I was going to enjoy NH programme
but I did.
Tomorrow nights will I hope live up to what I've read
about it.

Emma :-)

Next week is Sarah Millican.

Emma :-)