Yes, that part about her never having held a banjo before was so far fetched. Just as if, when her father played the banjo and she is musical herself, that she wouldn't have ever picked it up to try it.

As others have pointed out, she certainly wouldn't have been able to play the chords as easily as she did as her fingers would need to be hard before holding down a chord. I couldn't understand just how she was holding a chord down anyway with long finger nails like she had.

Just caught up with the O'Carroll episode. Most interesting , almost a detective story, and Brendan appeared genuinely shocked, surprised and moved as the story moved on.
Strange how the Black and Tans still get confused with the Auxiliaries, even I knew the difference.

This Mary Berry episode is much better with the mixed stories.

Yes much more interesting.

I agree, I'm glued!

Me too! Mary Berry is genuinely moved by the stories!

Loving this episode, but I missed a bit - did they say how/why Christopher Berry became bankrupt?

They think it was because it cost him too much to produce the trade directory.

So was I. Life was harsh and cruel in ways we are lucky enough not to suffer these days. The workhouse must have been absolute hell on earth

That was most enjoyable. I could have watch another hour. Mary was so interested in what they had to say and I think there could have been alot more.

Hooray ! A much better story at last for Mary. Using different ancestors made it so much more satisfying to watch - really enjoyed it.

Like a Part 2 - Where did Christopher Berry end up for starters?

WDYTYA back on form

Thank you!

Yes, a very interesting story with loads more that could have been explored

Spoiled for Scottish viewers who are watching it now.

Is their any surprise we want rid of you ignorant Sassenachs

[ rants on for a while then falls over ]

Much more traditional tonight & all the better for that. Funny that Mary never mentioned that one of her ancestors would have been providing the bread for another, whilst they were in the workhouse!

Yes, a much better episode. I wondered about Christopher Berry, strange that they should put an order out on him to pay 20s a week (a lot of money in those days) to keep his wife and 6 children in the workhouse. First they said he had probably abandoned them, but he had the two eldest children with him. I would have liked to have found out more about the aftermath of his bankruptcy.

I watched it in Aberdeen from 9.00 - 10.00 pm !

Ooh dear!..... I was watching it and I only got as far as the first decendant (the baker)... when I fell asleep!, I didn't bother pressing the record button, because the whole format hasn't been so good lately only focusing on one or two decendants!.... and now you all tell me it was like the old format and was much more varied!... Bother!....... oh well!... hopefully I will catch it on the repeat!......

It's all a bit sob storyish. They find the most terrible tale and then try and make the participants cry. It's getting old

Yes, I thought that was quite an irony too, especially if the baker did make adulterated bread.

Great show tonight. Mary was so sweet in her responses, and I felt she was genuinely moved and trying not to be, rather than feeling she should cry for the camera. Especially when she realised the earlier Mary Berry's children had died, and she said, 'To lose one child...' and then she couldn't go on, when they'd already told us her son died - I found that very sad.

I agree with other posters it's a better show when they tell more than one story.

(Must admit though, I thought for one horrible moment that the expert on workhouses was going to suggest that the children of the earlier Mary Berry were the children of her father Christopher when she was keeping house for him. When he then said they could guess that Mary hadn't liked her father because she never named any of her sons Christopher, that was pretty mild in comparison!)

Well I wondered if they were just being nice to Mary and not saying what we all thought. What a lovely lady she is, truly gracious.

I thought the same, it seemed for a minute to be heading that way. For Mary's sake I'm glad incest and abuse didn't come in to it, even after nearly 200 years that's one taboo in the family it would be hard accept.

Oh I didnt think of that. I do hope not but it could explain it.

No it is the ignorant people in BBC Scotland delaying an interesting programme for yet another borefest on the referendum. Does anyone actual watch them?