General Chat

I enjoyed the programme, again with OH watching it. As long as they don't focus on 20th century ancestors we'll probably watch future programmes.

Brian Blessed seemed rather over the top and tactile on occassions. The only irritation I had was that we weren't allowed to see the other names on the headstone!

I watched the programme last night and found it very interesting indeed.

I am not a fan of Brian Blessed but I thought he came over quite well and wasn't as boisterous as he normally is.

GP

I (almost) enjoyed the programme I thought it had a very interesting storyline. However, Brian Blessed was way over the top for me and his theatrics were somewhat insincere.

Forget all the bluster by Brian, I think it was a good programme. He mellowed at some points in the show, and was quite humbled.

I loved the St Pancras Old Church, I have been inside it many times. The angle of the camera made it look bigger than it actually is. It is tiny!

The second name on the headstone was Sabina, Jabez's second wife.

I too, am not a big fan of Brian Blessed, but I think I enjoyed that programme more than some of the others that are coming up!

I enjoyed it too. I noticed the other name on the headstone was Sabina's and year of death was the same as Jabez DET

Julie Walters 5*

The sister of Brian Blessed's ancestor was described as "an idiot" after the sad arrival of the family in the workhouse. (The father made the bad mistake of trusting the British Govt. to keep to a contract).

Here we are 200 years later. Not much has changed in the Blessed family.

The trouble with this promgrame its too much about the person and not enough about the history , for me the history is more important the actors treat it as a job we dont need to witness their trade its so annoying when think they are thredding the boards stomping about and over acting and why do they insist in making up their own conclusion when they havent got a bloody clue what they are talking about all the research has been done for them he was there cause his face is famous thats all. In the small house which was only simlair to one that Jabez probably lived in ( fantastic name by the way) he then stood there shouting " JABEZ WE ARE HERE WE HAVE FOUND YOU" whilst every viewer in the country cringed.

I think its time the whole programe was revamped get rid of the famous people seeking work and use normal people with an interesting family history bet ratings shout through the roofs.

:-|

You are spot on Hayley <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3



Hello by the way <3

Can't argue with you there Hayley, although have enjoyed
some of the " celebrity" findings.
I am quite willing for these experts to break down my brick
wall which hasn't got any smaller over the decades......
unfortunately don't think they will ever entertain us normal
folks.

Emma :-)

I think it would be very difficult just to use 'ordinary' people . For one thing with an actor or personality they are already used to the camera, already able to ignore it or play to it and get things done in a minimum of takes. Maybe the reactions are a bit over the top, but it's better that than someone saying 'oh that's interesting' ;-)

There ARE people who could do it, but they tend to be the more outgoing and 'dramatic' people to start with, it would be finding them that would be the difficult and expensive part.

I would like to see more of the research though, but then again we already know how to do that, I'm not sure that there are many beginners who would be helped by the minimal amount you could explain in an hour programme?

I enjoyed the Julie Walters one because it was in Ireland, and showed some alternative documents in the absence of census :-D

Hello Paula x

Julie Walters was also tipical and her story was interesting to say the least I was interested to know but if she was so interested why had she bothered to look like we have. how proud she was of the women of her family and rightly so we all women have played a bigger part in history than are credited for. She actually smiled when she found out her greatgrandfather had been charged with murdering an old man you or I would of fainted either with shock or shame she than after being shown anothert document made her own story up of what actually happened

I too have found a mad great great Aunt who worked in show business I shall make her in to a great dramatic actress who graced the stage and simply ignore the fact she was there to sweep the stage only after the show. :-|

I mentioned to hubby that the entry 'idiot' may have meant she was insensible through illness as she died just a couple of days later.

Entries can be very misleading.

I have looked at the records for St Pancras Workhouse, and there were quite a few entries with the words Idiot, Imbecile, Dumb, etc. next to their names.

Expressions that would not be allowed today. Different times................

People were sent to the Workhouse for being pregnant!

We all have our own likes & dislikes – that’s what makes the world go round – we can’t all be the same or we would be clones.

I am really looking forward to seeing Martin Shaw. I hope its not as disappointing as the Patrick Stewart one.

I loved watching the Brian Blessed one - i think he is a wonderful actor & does a lot to save animals - Anyone who loves animals is alright by me – he is one of life’s eccentrics

I liked Julie Waters too but it stayed too long on the political unrest of the times – a few seconds on it would have been quite sufficient – not nearly half an hour. We could have found at least a dozen other ancestors in that time.
Using the WDYTYA magic wand they use.

Don’t think it would have such an appeal if it was one of the precocious types you get in some of the monthly magazines. You would think from reading some of the stories only the “Upper Class” should search for their relatives.

Show me a genuine “Normal” person anytime. No I would not like to go on the show. My family is only really interesting to me & my husband – even if I have got a couple of murderers & bigamists there.
I would not inflict my ancestry on the TV population.

I too would like to see more about the research & less on the timeline historical conditions.

I don’t like the new formula (over the last 2 or 3 years) of sticking with one or two ancestors & going into all the Historical politics of the time for hours on end.

I like it where they find loads of ancestors going back a couple of hundred years & find all the different places they Lived & types of employment. Like the Barbara Windsor & the lovely Hugh Qureshi episodes & the ones in the earlier few series.
I liked that format and the US series – much more interesting in those days.

Tamzin Outhwaite story tonight and hope it
will be as interesting.

Emma :-)

Nudge

I keep meaning to watch one of those shows, but never seem to do so.
Thanks for putting info up Emma :-D will look at it later :-D :-D

Tabitha You FH sounds a hell more interesting than some of the so called famous peoples we have seen.

Dont mind Tazmin Outhwait she cant be any more annoying that Brian Blessied

Well different , her Great Grandfathers sound like a very nice kind chap

As you say Hayley different, didn't get me overly
excited about the findings but, he was a very nice man
who worked hard all his life.

Emma