DS Forums

 
 

Who Do you Think You Are? New Series


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 02-12-2016, 19:44
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
So much press for "Cheryl's" episode as if she is the star of this series. Ian McKellen is clearly a much bigger deal.
How do you know? Have you seen both family trees?
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 02-12-2016, 19:48
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
Quite so. His is the one I'm deliberately watching. I'm surprised he hasn't been on already considering some of the chaff they've already had on.
The "story" they find can vary a lot and some of the worse programmes have been actors perhaps they had too high an opinion of their importance.
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 21:02
BellaRosa
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: OP is a murderer!!
Posts: 27,200
On the assumption that this is your stab at phonetic Cockney, I recommend that you listen more closely to Ray Winstone.
1 out of 10, must try harder; bloimey? gavna? brike? lirmbef? wowk?
You're 'avin' a Turkish, surely?



I very, very, rarely watch this show, but if that talentless individual is on, I'll be inserting red hot needles in my eyes rather than watch it.
She is classed as the nations treasure don't you know Like you say a talentless.
BellaRosa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2016, 00:06
daisydee
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,812
I admit to not having been tempted to watch Cheryle & Amanda's ancestry stories as they do not interest me as performers. This can be a mistake though as it is what they find & how they find it which is the interesting bit. I was never a fan of David Dickinson, so didn't watch his WDYTYA when it was first aired, but watched a repeat - it turned out to be one of the most interesting I have ever watched. So who knows, when I am at a loose end, I may watch C & A's stories.
daisydee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2016, 19:39
tiacat
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,229
Last night's programme showed a common weakness out of the series. A lot was made of her ancestor being shown as 50 in the 1841 Census so he would have been 15 at an earlier event but other records showed he was actually 17. But the 1841 Census rounds off ages. No one corrected her about this so she was convinced he had earlier said he was older than he actually was (not uncommon of course).
Im watching this now, I think the reason he seems to have been accepted as 15 by the programme is because the master came back to reclaim him as the apprentice because his 7 years wasnt up, ergo he was 15, not 17. He was trying to say he was 17 because then it would have meant his apprenticeship years were up.

But you're right, the 1841 census rounded down for some reason.
tiacat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2016, 20:12
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
Im watching this now, I think the reason he seems to have been accepted as 15 by the programme is because the master came back to reclaim him as the apprentice because his 7 years wasnt up, ergo he was 15, not 17. He was trying to say he was 17 because then it would have meant his apprenticeship years were up.

But you're right, the 1841 census rounded down for some reason.
The 1841 census just continued the convention used for recording ages in the earlier censuses.
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2016, 09:17
LeeBoy19
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,044
Amanda Holden tonight. Hope she doesn't keep giggling throughout the whole thing like she usually does.
Had to turn her off couldn't stand her giggling stupidity for a full programme. So far disappointed in the first two of the series can only improve, I hope.
LeeBoy19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2016, 09:28
LeeBoy19
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,044
I think they give advance publicity for all the shows, just the tabloids making more of her. I don't understand the reluctance to watch episodes by some people. I found the Eastenders actor a real PITA but watched it. I can't stand the Scouse ex-con but will still watch his programme. Sometimes quite obnoxious people people can be interesting.

By the way, "More or Less" is just analysing the number of descendants of Edward III.
Yes and a very interesting analysis it was. For anyone interested in facts rather than just fluffy celebrity screen filler. Seems statistically an awful lot of us are probably direct descendants from Eddie, though not possible for many of us to prove direct links via official records all the way. Many have broken links so the trail is not contiguous.
LeeBoy19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 03:22
Jimmy Connors
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Home For The Bewildered
Posts: 86,509
Really enjoyed the Liz Bonnin ep.

Loved the way she slipped between English and French so effortlessly. All with that wonderful Irish accent.



She kept the story going well I thought. In some shows I can sometimes lose the thread of who they're talking about - but Liz was very good at keeping the thread clear and concise.

Very interesting story - especially on her father's side in Martinique.
Jimmy Connors is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 05:56
Artygill
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 108
Really enjoyed the Liz Bonnin ep.

Loved the way she slipped between English and French so effortlessly. All with that wonderful Irish accent.



She kept the story going well I thought. In some shows I can sometimes lose the thread of who they're talking about - but Liz was very good at keeping the thread clear and concise.

Very interesting story - especially on her father's side in Martinique.
I agree. A fascinating story. Liz wasn't wrong when she said at the start that she's a bit of a mongrel, but her mixed race ancestry produced some interesting characters and stories. Such good looking people too, judging from the photos.

I do love the episodes that delve further back in time and don't just stick with one ancestor. Top marks for this one.
Artygill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 09:17
kwynne42
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Gloating of Irlam
Posts: 39,221
Really enjoyed the Liz Bonnin ep.

Loved the way she slipped between English and French so effortlessly. All with that wonderful Irish accent.



She kept the story going well I thought. In some shows I can sometimes lose the thread of who they're talking about - but Liz was very good at keeping the thread clear and concise.

Very interesting story - especially on her father's side in Martinique.
They warned her her father family was complicated, they weren't wrong heh.
kwynne42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 09:51
ricardoylucia
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 665
We thoroughly enjoyed last night episode with Liz Bonnin. To us, her story was far more interesting than last weeks and of many others in the past. 10/10.
ricardoylucia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 10:13
radioanorak
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: AFANDOU, Rhodes Greece
Posts: 2,973
Just watched this on iplayer.
This was great episode & told the story very well.
radioanorak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 10:40
grahamzxy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NW England
Posts: 9,647
She has a fascinating ancestry. I wonder if the earliest paternal grandfather who married Zoe the enslaved female treated all his "slaves" equally as humans. The irony that she received blood money when slavery was abolished is a bitter pill to swallow.

The one thing that came across was her impatience at times...."Open the book!" ...the man did attempt to explain things to her first. I imagine she suspected she had black ancestry on her paternal side.
grahamzxy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 12:41
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
She has a fascinating ancestry. I wonder if the earliest paternal grandfather who married Zoe the enslaved female treated all his "slaves" equally as humans. The irony that she received blood money when slavery was abolished is a bitter pill to swallow.

The one thing that came across was her impatience at times...."Open the book!" ...the man did attempt to explain things to her first. I imagine she suspected she had black ancestry on her paternal side.
It has often been reported how the owners received compensation.

I think she was just eager to learn nore, unlike some of the subjects of the programme.

It's hard to be sure what happened a couple of hundred years ago. Some on past programmes have virtually accused their female slave ancestors of being raped which obviously would happen but also surround young men far from home with young women and there are sure to be relationships, many quite consensual. The women would know of course that even if they did not marry, they would probably benefit and any children would get better jobs as well as often get an education.
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 13:54
mklass
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,296
I agree. A fascinating story. Liz wasn't wrong when she said at the start that she's a bit of a mongrel, but her mixed race ancestry produced some interesting characters and stories. Such good looking people too, judging from the photos.

I do love the episodes that delve further back in time and don't just stick with one ancestor. Top marks for this one.
I didn't bother with this one because I had absolutely no idea who this woman was..... So that was wrong of me I clearly see now!..... in fact talking about people being on there that you are not too keen on reminds me of when I watched the Barbara Windsor episode a few series back!... I wasn't very keen on her but I found it the most interesting episode of all that I have seen... Her family history seemed on a par with my own family in that they were costamongers living and working in the whitechapel area of London and she had a relative that came over from Ireland at the time of the potato famine... I felt like I had learnt a lot about my families history never mind hers!....
mklass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 15:31
LeeBoy19
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,044
Really enjoyed the Liz Bonnin ep.

Loved the way she slipped between English and French so effortlessly. All with that wonderful Irish accent.



She kept the story going well I thought. In some shows I can sometimes lose the thread of who they're talking about - but Liz was very good at keeping the thread clear and concise.

Very interesting story - especially on her father's side in Martinique.
Yes agreed a return to form for me. Much better than the first two. Liz who was not really well known to me by name but recognised the face. Very interesting without amateur dramatics from Liz.
LeeBoy19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 15:37
Aurora13
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,591
Excellent last night. I don't care how well known folks are I'm interested in the ancestry. Best of the series. They are back to two ancestry lines rather than the dull one ancestor/social history format.
Aurora13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 10:10
flique
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 968
Same here it's the historical story that draws me in not the person starting it off. I had no idea who this one was but great story well told. Mr F will only watch episodes of people he likes.
flique is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 10:49
Terry.R
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 325
It has often been reported how the owners received compensation.

I think she was just eager to learn nore, unlike some of the subjects of the programme.

It's hard to be sure what happened a couple of hundred years ago. Some on past programmes have virtually accused their female slave ancestors of being raped which obviously would happen but also surround young men far from home with young women and there are sure to be relationships, many quite consensual. The women would know of course that even if they did not marry, they would probably benefit and any children would get better jobs as well as often get an education.
With respect, It's not hard to be sure, of what happened a couple of hundred years ago. The raping of female slaves was very much the norm. The slaves were considered chattel and not even human.

As for your last sentence, defenders of slavery thought very much the same thing - slaves were better off being slaves.
Terry.R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 11:29
anyonefortennis
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: 🇬🇧
Posts: 60,749
It was funny how she gesticulated and became more animated when she was speaking French.
anyonefortennis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 11:48
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
With respect, It's not hard to be sure, of what happened a couple of hundred years ago. The raping of female slaves was very much the norm. The slaves were considered chattel and not even human.

As for your last sentence, defenders of slavery thought very much the same thing - slaves were better off being slaves.
Obviously rape took place but there were also many consensual relationships formed, some of which resulted in marriage but even informal relationships could last as with her earliest ancestors. An intelligent attractive young woman would see it as a way of getting a better life for herself and any children, I would not be surprised if some were encouraged by their mothers.

Condition and treatment of the slaves varied widely just as it did for indentured and paid labour. I would think on many estates it would be better than it had been at the hands of the black and Arab slave traders back in Africa.
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 13:33
Jo09
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,550
Obviously rape took place but there were also many consensual relationships formed, some of which resulted in marriage but even informal relationships could last as with her earliest ancestors. An intelligent attractive young woman would see it as a way of getting a better life for herself and any children, I would not be surprised if some were encouraged by their mothers.

Condition and treatment of the slaves varied widely just as it did for indentured and paid labour. I would think on many estates it would be better than it had been at the hands of the black and Arab slave traders back in Africa.
I'm sure a lot of people will keep telling themselves this.

Good episode. I think that wdytya was getting stale but I'm enjoying this series.
Jo09 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2016, 10:33
Surf's Up
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 319
Really interesting episode, I knew next to nothing about the ethic mix in Trinidad beyond the fact it is very ethnically mixed.

I did wonder if maybe she was turning the grief on a bit when she discovered she had slave-owning ancestors, given she didn't in the same way when she found she had some who actually were slaves (and one who covered both bases).
Surf's Up is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2016, 11:01
Lily_M
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Robin's Nest
Posts: 669
Really interesting episode, I knew next to nothing about the ethic mix in Trinidad beyond the fact it is very ethnically mixed.

I did wonder if maybe she was turning the grief on a bit when she discovered she had slave-owning ancestors, given she didn't in the same way when she found she had some who actually were slaves (and one who covered both bases).
I obviously can't speak for her or know what was going on in her head, but I think the thing that really upset her was that each person's name had a price next to it - as she said, they were human beings who were being treated as commodities.
Lily_M is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:41.