My favourites have been:
Rory Bremner's - a hero, WW2 story
Kim Cattrall's - her grandfather deserted, it mirrored my own mother's life in many ways.
Bruce Forsyth's - about a bigamist grandfather who went to the USA
Rolf Harris - about his grandfather and uncle who died in France WW1
I would like to see more stories that go back a bit further into the earlier part of the 1800's. We have censuses from 1841.
It would be great to hear of some celebrities who ended up doing similar jobs to their ancestors.
I follow Richard Madeley on twitter and he will be on it soon. It seems that the program asks them if they would be up for it and then they research the ones who say yes. Then they actually film the ones when they find something interesting. They don't tell the person what they have found. They only find out on camera so the reactions are real.
I don't really mind who the person is so long as the story is interesting. I really like David Mitchell but thought his story was dull.
I follow Richard Madeley on twitter and he will be on it soon. It seems that the program asks them if they would be up for it and then they research the ones who say yes. Then they actually film the ones when they find something interesting. They don't tell the person what they have found. They only find out on camera so the reactions are real.
I don't really mind who the person is so long as the story is interesting. I really like David Mitchell but thought his story was dull.
It was a bit, until the payoff of the will which was hilarious
No doubt there are many interesting people we would like to see on Who Do You Think You Are, but there are two issues. One, is that their family history may be boring and the other is that they already know their family history, so their would be no surprise for them.
I may have mentioned it somewhere on here before, but Melissa Suffield (Lucy Beale in EastEnders) might be an interesting one – Suffield was the maiden name of JRR Tolkien’s mother, so it’d be fascinating to see if there’s a connection.
they showed three - SJP, Brooke Shields and Susan Sarandan. I think the World Cup mucked up their scheduling.
SJPs was a great story, right back to the Salem witch trials. I may have to "acquire" the US series from other sources if Beeb aren't going to show them - also I wondered why the US ones weren't in HD.
I would really like to see some ordinary people too. Celebs' families aren't intrinsically more interesting, I don't think. When I was researching my own tree my friend kept commenting that the things I found were far more interesting than some of the WDYTYA episodes, and I know my family isn't unique in that. I would like to see some of the work and help that the celebs get in finding out their family stuff also helping ordinary people.
My favourite episodes of the series have been Jeremy Paxman's, Stephen Fry's, Jane Horrocks and Matthew Pinsent's. What I've also found is that what I think of the celeb doesn't necessarily affect how much I enjoyed their programme - I like David Mitchell, but his programme was dull, and I dislike Bruce Forsyth and Barbara Windsor, but found both their programmes really interesting.
I would be interested in seeing some programmes with people whose families were immigrants - maybe someone like Michael Portillo or Sandi Toksvig.
They start a series with 12 celebrities but then only make the programme if they can find a interesting back story that has not been covered in a previous episode.
Comments
Rory Bremner's - a hero, WW2 story
Kim Cattrall's - her grandfather deserted, it mirrored my own mother's life in many ways.
Bruce Forsyth's - about a bigamist grandfather who went to the USA
Rolf Harris - about his grandfather and uncle who died in France WW1
I would like to see more stories that go back a bit further into the earlier part of the 1800's. We have censuses from 1841.
It would be great to hear of some celebrities who ended up doing similar jobs to their ancestors.
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Don't know why there's only one female, but it's interesting that we have a husband and wife this time in Dervla Kirwan and Rupert Penry-Jones.
And with Rupert it could be a double whammy because his mother is the actress Angela Thorne, Marjorie from To The Manor Born.
Hugh Grant
Barry Humphries
I don't really mind who the person is so long as the story is interesting. I really like David Mitchell but thought his story was dull.
From Hayley
It was a bit, until the payoff of the will which was hilarious
i had no idea that was his mum, interesting
Come on BBC, just show the whole lot. :mad:
they showed three - SJP, Brooke Shields and Susan Sarandan. I think the World Cup mucked up their scheduling.
- William Roache
- Samantha Cameron (mainly because I read she's linked to the Sheffield family who own a place near me)
Sophie Dahl
- Phillip Schofield
- Gino D'Acampo
- James Martin
Also - Paul O'Grady, perhaps.
The choice of celebrity may not necessarily reflect how interesting (or not) their family tree is, however.
Trisha Goddard
Alan Carr
Stephanie Beacham
SJPs was a great story, right back to the Salem witch trials. I may have to "acquire" the US series from other sources if Beeb aren't going to show them - also I wondered why the US ones weren't in HD.
My favourite episodes of the series have been Jeremy Paxman's, Stephen Fry's, Jane Horrocks and Matthew Pinsent's. What I've also found is that what I think of the celeb doesn't necessarily affect how much I enjoyed their programme - I like David Mitchell, but his programme was dull, and I dislike Bruce Forsyth and Barbara Windsor, but found both their programmes really interesting.
I would be interested in seeing some programmes with people whose families were immigrants - maybe someone like Michael Portillo or Sandi Toksvig.
Judy Dench might be a good one too