RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Lydart on Wednesday 20 August 08 08:41 BST (UK)
-
Someone has to start a thread ...
This evening, BBC1, 9 p.m.
(I'll have to watch it on iPlayer later ... :( )
-
(I'll have to watch it on iPlayer later ... :( )
Because you dont have a tellie, plus you'll be well into crocheting flowers at the time of the broadcast :( :(
Don't forget, Tracing Your Roots on Radio 4 today
-
Thanks Simon; I'd forgotten that's on today !!
I've always thought of Boris as a buffoon ... I do hope the Beeb has managed to quell that side of him !
-
I think Boris has worked very hard at his Buffoon image :)
-
Meanwhile over here in Oz we're still getting repeats of the second series............ no fair. :(
Karenlee
-
As genealogists should we too burst into tears at every revelation? (Like Patsy) I must admit to a moist eye when reading the actual record of my deceased sisters and brother at the Records Office.
From his hairstyle I guess Boris just loves to be noticed. However his ability must be appreciated by those who work with him, or would he be down the road by now?
We shall see.
Is it possible to log onto iplayer in Oz?
-
No ! But I understand the BBC are going to make it possible at some time ...
-
Have tried in the past to log onto that iplayer site but it is for residents of the UK only...... darn it ;D ;D
Karenlee
-
I've always thought of Boris as a buffoon ... I do hope the Beeb has managed to quell that side of him !
Thanks for the reminder Lydart, I'd have forgotten!
I think Boris the Buffoon is adorable, strange I know, but as someone who pays no mind to politicans whatsoever, I just find him entertaining! As for the hair, have you ever seen his father? Like father, like son!
Lass x
-
Have tried in the past to log onto that iplayer site but it is for residents of the UK only...... darn it ;D ;D
Thats because we pay the licence fee ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
I think only a politician would make the statement, "I hope I'm descended from slaves."
Did anyone start their family tree in the expectation of hoping they were descended from slaves?
I suspect he is going to find the opposite is true.
-
I'm watching the clock for this one too. Boris is one of the great British eccentrics...we either love 'em or hate 'em. I also suspect that he's not quite the twit we think he is.....................
-
I'm watching the clock for this one too. Boris is one of the great British eccentrics...we either love 'em or hate 'em. I also suspect that he's not quite the twit we think he is.....................
No. I'm pretty sure he is a twit.
-
I know the history discovered was bit beyond us mere mortals but I though it was a good episode, with some interesting twists.
I also though Boris came across very well - I loved some of his sayings & expressions!
Shane.
-
I liked his comment about how genealogy was 'democratic'.
He has always irritated me with his pomposity but I found the episode good enough for me to suspend that opinion, albeit temporarily. :)
Paul
-
Yes, he is a twit, and there were some twists, but...
The one thing I wanted to know more about was his almost albino colouring; it seemed like he took after his father, but where did this colouring come from?
These aspects are the sort of thing that I'm always fascinated with, but don't seem to be referred to much on WDYTYA. Who do these people take after?
WDTPTA?
-
According to my quick scribbles, Boris Johnson is my 16th Cousin twice removed. Our common ancestor of Stewart, Scottish blood. I'm sure he'd be horrified. ;D
I like Boris. I especially liked the toff bumbling noises he and his father used to communicate with each other. I agree with shanew in the sense that most of us would not research our family tree in this way. I'd get my first plane ticket and find myself broke. ;D
-
Well............what can we add to that one !!
The Turkish side was absolutely gripping. So dramatic and what a story.
The second was so entertaining, that Boris is quite quite amusing. Top that! ;D ;D ;D
-
I wondered about the hair colour myself. Some researchers would be convinced they were Scandinavian if they had it, and not from a Turkish descent.
-
That noise he made was absolutely terrifying!
But the England, Wales comment did make me laugh.
I must say, after watching him for an hour, I'm still not a fan. And thinking that such a man (terrifying noises included) has any kind of political control over London is equally terrifying.
So I suppose I was left at the end of the progamme in a state of terror.
(Do you think I used the word terrifying too much ;-))
-
It was an amazing story. I'd forgotten how nice those bazaars in Istanbul were.
And the turns and twists in that ancestry were quite something
Bob
-
I was mildly interested but just couldn't become emotionally or even intellectually involved in it. I suspect that if I was in the same room as the man for more than 5 minutes I'd probably want to shoot him! He also has remarkably cold eyes under all that 'cripes' and 'tosh' public schoolboy patter .... (oops, I think that's my ag lab origins showing through). ;D
It was a Turkish history lesson followed by a jaunt around parts of old Germany but I found my attention wandering. It's probably because there wasn't one iota of relevance to my humble origins in this country (nor, I suspect, the vast majority of us).
Who's next? Someone a bit more down to earth, I hope.
Jill
-
I wonder what the Queen thinks of her new found cousin?
-
Rather think she might be tickled pink....
Loved it, nothing in it to help us, but a thorooughly entertaining program.
-
I wonder what the Queen thinks of her new found cousin?
I wonder what David Cameron thinks of his new found cousin. ;D
-
I loved it too, He really enjoyed himself.
-
I thoroughly enjoyed the programme and love Boris. He's not the twit he appears to be.
I wondered about the hair colour myself. Some researchers would be convinced they were Scandinavian if they had it, and not from a Turkish descent.
My eldest son has hair the same colour as Boris and my paternal side of the family is supposed to be of Spanish/Portuguese descent. In fact my son is the only blond in the whole of the family - and no he's not the milkman's son. ;D So who knows where these genes suddenly appear from.
Lizzie
-
next up in series 5 are :
Jerry Springer, Esther Rantzen
Ainsley Harriott, David Suchet
Jodie Kidd & Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
also watch out for the Irish version of "Who do you think you are ?" coming up later in the Autumn if you can get RTE.
Shane.
-
I wonder what the Queen thinks of her new found cousin?
She's proberly say:
"Stick him in the Tower with my other new found cousin George Bush Jr." ;D
-
I'm in the 'loved it' camp. He was MP in the neighbouring constituency to us and everyone I know who has turned to him for help has been very impressed.
He may look and act the buffoon - but I think he is far from ot
As from where he got his looks - take a look at the picture of Granny Johnson - I thought there was a resemblence....
-
I thoroughly enjoyed the programme and love Boris. He's not the twit he appears to be.
I wondered about the hair colour myself. Some researchers would be convinced they were Scandinavian if they had it, and not from a Turkish descent.
My eldest son has hair the same colour as Boris and my paternal side of the family is supposed to be of Spanish/Portuguese descent. In fact my son is the only blond in the whole of the family - and no he's not the milkman's son. ;D So who knows where these genes suddenly appear from.
Lizzie
I worked in Portugal for a little while, for a blonde lady who was Portugese. It was seen as a sign of great class
-
I worked in Portugal for a little while, for a blonde lady who was Portugese. It was seen as a sign of great class
That's very interesting and ties in with something my father always used to say about his ancestor, which I haven't been able to verify yet. Not quite up with the royalty that Boris found, more with the very successful rich.
Lizzie
-
also watch out for the Irish version of "Who do you think you are ?" coming up later in the Autumn if you can get RTE.
That should be interesting. I have some interests in Ireland and have no idea where to begin. I'll have to go through the sky channels to try and find it. :)
-
I usually try to follow female lines, remembering the old adage that "It is a Wise child who knows it's own father""
So my immediate thought was, "why did it take so long to marry off Caroline to Charles...She was 5 months pregnant!! . Surely, if he was the father, then the marriage would have taken place earlier?
Did Boris discover more in that large file, I wonder? Do wish we had been privy to more details of her early life.
Spring
-
I hadn't seen much of Boris, and wasn't particularly looking forward to tonight's episode. But after watching it, I've become a fan of him :) I thought he was very down to earth in a very eccentric kind of way. I thought it was a brilliant episode, it even had my husband interested.
I would have cried if I had found out about the silver though :( Imagine owning that set, and knowing the history behind it. I wonder what ever happened to it?
-
Cripes! Golly! and so on.
Completely unrelated to any sort of family most of us are likely to come across, but an entertaining programme and certainly, as the football commentators would say, a game of two halves, but both halves seemed to underline to me how the genes flow through families. The politician and journalist gt-grandfather and gt-grandson on the one hand; the upper-class twittery on the other.
It was interesting throughout seeing the politician Boris suddenly catch and check the schoolboy Boris.
Fascinating that his gt grandfather is still persona non grata in Turkey and they had trouble finding any historian who would discuss him! Fascinating and quite sad too.
It seemed to me that Boris was clearly moved by the account of the execution of his gt grandfather. Boris was utterly speechless and there were no 'cripes' exclamations then, just, after a very long silence, a breathless "b*stards".
I'd have liked to have known a bit more about the de Pfeffels, though obviously Catharina's line was far more interesting and significant. And what a great shame the Wurttemberg silver collection so clearly prized by his grandmother got broken up and sold.
Nie to see them using microfilm for once rather than the prized original registers being produced ... and then the super twist that the microfilm had missed off the marginal note as to her real father. How much do we all suspect that might be the case for our people!
Never has the word fossicking been used so often on prime-time television! ;D
I look forward to his apology to Wales for saying they're part of England!
-
Right at the end of the programme, the continuity announcer said that the genealogist from WDYTYA would be taking viewers'/listeners' calls on Radio 5 Live at 10pm tomorrow.
-
Surely, if he was the father, then the marriage would have taken place earlier?
That hadn't occurred to me - that maybe the father was someone unacceptable, and this was just a marriage of convenience?
I found the programme interesting and surprising. Not really a 'how to do it' sort of programme, but still riveting.
One query I was left with at the end was a throwaway remark Boris made. Before the programme he thought he was a mixture of several nationalities etc, which I thought he said included Jewish ancestry. I don't remember this aspect being mentioned and wonder if I was mistaken.
It was one programme that I think needs a follow-up.
-
One query I was left with at the end was a throwaway remark Boris made. Before the programme he thought he was a mixture of several nationalities etc
According to an article in the Sunday Times dated 03/08/08:
Last year Boris claimed that one of his great-great-grandmothers was a Circassian slave from southern Russia. However, the programme makers appear to have been unable to find proof of this.
Boris makes all kinds on claims and is famous for his gaffes, so I wouldn't take anything he says literally.
-
Dear old Boris, he didn't let us down did he? British twittery is alive and well ;D
Blonde hair, jewish ancestors?...we were only looking at his fathers side of the family, anyone know what lies on his mothers side, or did I miss something?
-
Fascinating that his gt grandfather is still persona non grata in Turkey and they had trouble finding any historian who would discuss him!
"Persona non grata", or is it just the fact that Turkey isn't quite the free democracy that it claims to be ?
I found the programme fascinating. Compared to Patsy Kensit's programme which looked thoroughly rehearsed in places, Boris' reactions seemed spontaneous and sincere. Just one thing wrong - the programme should have been two hours long, to look at the other side of Boris's family.
-
I enjoyed the content of the programme (as always) but to make a small criticism I only wish that Boris had been able to resist continually finishing the researcher's answers. Just the nature of the beast I expect !
-
I found it quite fascinating, although I too wish there had been more about his mothers side of the family.
It has also enabled me to add a wonderful new word - fossicking - to my vocabulary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossicking
Jennifer
-
Ah dear old 'fossicking,' a word I have only ever heard the OH use. It was nice to think someone else uses it. Like meeting an old frind in a very unexpected place. :)
-
I think of fossicking as a more upper class version of furtling. ;D
-
Perhaps that's why I've only heard the dearly beloved use it. My side of the family wouldn't...common as muck the Mathias lot... ;D
-
Interesting news about the Irish version of WDYTYA.
Can you keep us posted as to when it starts, Shane?
Can you get RTE on Sky? Hope so.
Jill
-
on the Irish WDYTYA I'll update on rootschat as soon as know the date it starts(*). I think RTE1 is available on Sky - but I am not sure if you need an Irish Sky card. I'm on cable system here in Dublin but 'll ask around the Sky/satellite experts and see if I can find out...
Shane
(*) Moderator Comment: for easier finding ......
RootsChat Topics: Who Do You Think You Are - The TV Series
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,296695.0.html
-
I enjoyed the content of the programme (as always) but to make a small criticism I only wish that Boris had been able to resist continually finishing the researcher's answers. Just the nature of the beast I expect !
That niggled me too! Not to mention the Comedy Bad German Accent he kept coming out with.
Enjoyed the programme, though - fascinating.
Anna :)
-
I didn't think it was a comedy German accent, more just a Brit trying to speak a bit of German to his hosts, occasionally managing it, occasionally not, and reverting to cod German when his vocab let him down.
Oh, no! What's the world coming to? I'm an apologist for Boris Johnson! :o :o
-
I was also wondering if BBC Wales were doing another "Coming Home" series showing celebs with Welsh ancestry re-visting their roots (previous programmes saw Patrick Mower, Janet Street Porter, Rolf Harris among others) as a few months ago my mother saw a film crew in the next street in Tonypandy (Rhondda Valleys) filming Glyn Houston at his old family home.
Interestingly for me, as a child my grandfather and his siblings lived a few doors up from Glyn, Donald and their sister Jean and I have a photograph of my grandparent's wedding (grandmother from my profile) where Glyn (as a young boy) is standing on the side watching the bride and groom leave the church, so it would be great to see a programme made about someone who grew up in the same street as my own family!
-
I hate the fact that Boris is mayor of london, but loved this episode - a cracking good story, and Boris is good value when he is just being his media self. Interesting the politicians/rulers/journalists in his line. He is a clever bloke, despite his bumbling persona.
-
I was looking forward to this episode - if only to see what left Boris speechless (as had been intimated in a TV magazine!)
Whilst the story of the family in Istanbul was interesting and poignant it seemed to centre on only one person, rather than more generations.
I greatly enjoyed the "unfolding" mystery history of the de Pfeffel's! Strange, though, that the German archivist managed to "find" the extra information just at the right time.......hmmm!
But, anyway, "King" Boris - now you've another "after-dinner" story to add to your collection!
-
I was looking forward to this episode - if only to see what left Boris speechless (as had been intimated in a TV magazine!)
I was so very thankful to watch an episode where the central person didn't have the seemingly obligatory fit of weeping - although it would have been quite understandable given the nature of his grandfather's death.
-
Blonde hair, jewish ancestors?
Back to my original posting where I said my eldest son is as blond as Boris, whereas the ancestors are Spanish/Portuguese. Although I haven't found the link yet, these ancestors were very probably Jewish as my dad's brothers definitely looked Jewish and my mum said that at her wedding, someone asked her mother if she was marrying into a Jewish family.
I still think genes are very funny things. ;D
Lizzie
-
I hate the fact that Boris is mayor of london.............
Why all the anti-Boris stuff ? Given the choice of spending the day with either Boris or his predecessor to the job, I know which one I'd prefer to spend a day with. Ken's droning would drive me mad in 10 minutes. Funny how people call Boris with his Oxford degree a twit, yet seem to think that someone who left school with 3 O-Levels and the gift of the gab is somehow better. Probably the same people who think Sir Alan Sugar is a genius too ? ::) Give me eccentric Boris every time.
-
Oh, no! What's the world coming to? I'm an apologist for Boris Johnson! :o :o
LOL ;D
Perhaps I was being a bit harsh. I thought he came across as likeable overall - and a quite remarkable story.
Anna :)
-
We are at the mercy of the programme makers, who will show us the story as they imagined it before they started.
Having been asked by a TV film crew to turn the pages of a diary at 4 or 5 different speeds, one wonders what the "directors cut" would disclose.
Good on ya Boris, an entertaining hour. Hey, what what, dont ya know old chap.
Mike
A mere commoner with a criminal for a gt gt grandad.
-
I thought this was a great programme. As for the family history, well, you couldn't make it up could you?
Boris came over as a lovely, intellectual man who was having a whale of a time discovering his ancestry. I really enjoyed it.
Margaret
-
Well I think he is an extremely funny and well educated man. Did you notice how he read the documents in French and German. How many of us could do that?
I thoroughly enjoyed the programme - one of the best i have watched. Good for you Boris!
-
I thouroughly enjoyed the programme. Have to agree it was one of the best. Its not everyday you're told an ancestor of yours was beaten and hung or that you are related to Royalty. I felt he handled himself well and proved to be as human as the next person. Personally I thought him to be very funny.
-
I thought this was certainly one of the best! In fact if the rest carry on like this it will be the best series.
I thought Boris was great and came over as I thought he would - a bit of a buffoon but with humour and a serious side to him.
And as someone else remarked he is far superior to his predecessor in every possible way and obviously with a wonderful education. And it was an interesting look into a Family History of someone with such variations,
Abiam
-
I was mildly interested but just couldn't become emotionally or even intellectually involved in it. I suspect that if I was in the same room as the man for more than 5 minutes I'd probably want to shoot him! He also has remarkably cold eyes under all that 'cripes' and 'tosh' public schoolboy patter .... (oops, I think that's my ag lab origins showing through). ;D
It was a Turkish history lesson followed by a jaunt around parts of old Germany but I found my attention wandering. It's probably because there wasn't one iota of relevance to my humble origins in this country (nor, I suspect, the vast majority of us).
Who's next? Someone a bit more down to earth, I hope.
Jill
Oops, I think that's your inverted snobbery showing through ;D
Rena
-
I thought it was a good, fun programme for the most part, stonings aside, and he came across as an interesting, intelligent and fun guy. Definitely a product of his father (No doubting that lineage!) and a good education, but there's absolutely nothing wrong in that! (I wish I'd had such an education)
As someone who is descended (or should that be ascended?) from Agricultural Labourers all the way back to the Year Dot, his story couldn't have been further from mine, but even so I found it highly enjoyable.
A good romp, and a much more relaxing hour than the previous episode.
(And as I don't live in London, I'm none too fussed about his politics or policies!)
Glen
-
Yep, Rena! That's me - an inverted snob, and actually quite proud of the fact. ;D
Just so's I know - am I suppose to admire someone who acts like a bumbling idiot and talks like a latterday Bertie Wooster ? (I must remember to tug my forelock next time I make a comment!)
As LizzieW rightly says, some of us have to live in the real world.
Jill
-
(I must remember to tug my forelock next time I make a comment!)
Hey, get tugging! ;D ;D ;D The 1st Baron Wimborne was my 6th cousin 4 times removed; the present 10th Earl of St. Germans is my 9th cousin once removed; and the present Earl of Shelbourne is my 10th cousin.
So far, I've not managed to get my dad to bow to me unfortunately (these noble cousins are all on my mum's side). >:(
-
Yep, Rena!
Just so's I know - am I suppose to admire someone who acts like a bumbling idiot and talks like a latterday Bertie Wooster ? (I must remember to tug my forelock next time I make a comment!)
Jill
LOL - you do what you want - as a wrinkly Yorkshire lass I make allowances for soft southerners and young uns - and as for tugging at my forelock - I can't do that it's hidden under my flat cap ;D
Cheers,
Rena
-
I thought it was a really entertaining episode. It was a good balance between the tragedy and the more light-hearted mystery of Boris' ancestors.
One unanswered question, though: who bought the family silver? I bet Boris & co are kicking themselves now! ;D It would be nice if they added some these facts to a follow-up page (or similar) on the BBC website.
hume24
-
who bought the family silver? I bet Boris & co are kicking themselves now!
Not as much as you or I would be, I don't think Boris or his family are short of a bob or two. Although his dad was quick to point out a few weeks back that Boris only went to Eton because he won a scholarship to the school.
Lizzie
-
Enjoyed the programme, but still convinced the man's a buffoon, with an unfortunate tendancy to speak before thinking.
meles
-
People surely can't be surprised by anti-Boris sentiment, can they?
As for congratulating the man on his ability to muster a few words of French and German, I can not understand that. It's nothing to do with his intellectual capacity (I'm certain most people here could do the same after having had his education) but educational privelege.
But, yes, do let's not get too deep into politics here.
P.S. I can't quite fathom the problem with crying on TV here either. This is Britain 2008 and if Patsy Kensit feels moved to tears (as many other would) then let's celebrate real emotional reaction. Much preferable to an outdated Victorian-style stoicism, I say.
-
I don't mind crying, I just think that she was OTT.
As someone else said, it seemed rehearsed.
-
Fair enough.
I was surprised by how genuine I thought she came across. Wasn't really expecting to enjoy her episode.
Who is it next week? :-)
-
Jerry Springer. And I thought this was the English series... ::)
meles
-
Hey , we're talking about Boris on this thread ;) !
Why has he got blond hair? Is it because he is part German? I would guess so, but as someone else said, we didnt hear about his mother's side at all.
One thing interested me that hasnt been mentioned ; did he say that he/one (!) has over 1000 10x great grandfathers? I can't do the maths so perhaps someone can tell me. I can't get back that far - 8x on one tree, and I'm in the1600s!
-
Hey , we're talking about Boris on this thread ;) !
I thought we were talking about the merits or otherwise of the programme, not our liking or otherwise of him as a person ;)
-
who bought the family silver? I bet Boris & co are kicking themselves now!
Not as much as you or I would be, I don't think Boris or his family are short of a bob or two. Although his dad was quick to point out a few weeks back that Boris only went to Eton because he won a scholarship to the school.
Lizzie
Quite right, the value today is probably of no real worry to the family. Not that I want to bring this thread into personal grounds ... ;) I was referring more to the "family value". I, for one, would love to have something owned by an ancestor. I haven't been that lucky though!
hume24
-
I don't really have an opinion on Boris - I see him on TV now and again and that's that.
I enjoyed his episode - I usually enjoy them all, even if the people concerned annoy me. I just love the diversity and the twists and turns we find out about.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't care who's ancestors we're talking about - I want to know it all - ag labs, kings, queens, whatever - and all the gory or not so gory details that go alongside.
Anne (probably just to nosey for her own good)
-
One thing interested me that hasnt been mentioned ; did he say that he/one (!) has over 1000 10x great grandfathers? I can't do the maths so perhaps someone can tell me. I can't get back that far - 8x on one tree, and I'm in the1600s!
1024 8xgreat-grandparents to each and every one of us, I think. Although I doubt if many people will ever find them all. I think I've only got about 1000 left to find!
-
Jerry Springer. And I thought this was the English series... ::)
meles
Apparently, Jerry Springer was born in England.
-
BORIS ROCKS!!!
He is such a breath of fresh air as far as politicians go! I can't understand why some of you dislike him so much?I think he is just fab and would make a great PM!
I though this one was of the better WDYTYA episodes. ;D
-
Well, I think Boris was cracking good! If he ever gives up the idea of politics he could slip into that old raconteur's shoes - Ustinov!
-
Now, Peter Ustinov would be a great WDYTYA! ;D
meles
-
Was I the only person in the world who thought Boris and his pea-in-a-pod but older dad looked extremely like the mysterious Caroline von wotsit? Or are my eyes really playing me up?
Carole
-
I am just a teeny little bit amazed that students of family history, who must neccessarily have open minds, should show such prejudices over someone elses's ancestry.
Also that they should expect everyone to fit into their own personal concept of how one should speak, act or have a haircut.
These programmes are supposed to be to entertain and inform us. I am truly sorry that some of the critics of Boris Johnson could not have their own choice of some dull, grinding, humourless politician instead.
Strike that - I am not in the least sorry - but personally would prefer it if people would not use this site to display their political or religious preferences.
-
That's why I said
I thought we were talking about the merits or otherwise of the programme, not our liking or otherwise of him as a person ;)
-
One thing interested me that hasnt been mentioned ; did he say that he/one (!) has over 1000 10x great grandfathers? I can't do the maths so perhaps someone can tell me. I can't get back that far - 8x on one tree, and I'm in the1600s!
1024 8xgreat-grandparents to each and every one of us, I think. Although I doubt if many people will ever find them all. I think I've only got about 1000 left to find!
I've got 1020 still to find. :o Eek. :o Perhaps I'll disown a few to make the task more manageable. ::)
Boris is good entertainment value on TV, and WDYTYA was no exception.
-
Got to say I enjoyed the show and I think Boris came across very well
Would have been interesting if they had said who Caroline was supposed to have married - was it Boris's greatgrandfather and did she get pregnant by someone else or did she get her own way and marry the man she wanted?
Bet whoever brought the family silver has put the insurance up on it with a provenance like that ;D
Willow x
-
I think it was a ripping yarn and thoroughly enjoyed it! Boris was entertaining and seemed to enjoy all of his little discoveries. Perhaps one day they will do a series for the likes of you and I that will show us exactly how to get hold of all of these wonderful documents without the resources of the BBC! Roll on the next one....
-
Jerry Springer. And I thought this was the English series... ::)
meles
Jerry Springer was born in East Finchley tube station, London (13 Feb 1944), the family emigrated to the USA in 1949.
John
-
Best Episode EVER!
Loved it !, loved the dry wit, the surprises, and found that
the contrasing parts of amazement, shock and humour made
not only the program interesting but suddenly I bacame interested in
Boris, and found myself laughing with him rather than at him
Jinks
The NEW press agent for Boris ;D
Wish I had a Granny Butter
-
Getting back to the programme itself, I would be interested to know how long it actually took to do all that research, especially into the German part of the family.
Jennifer
-
I would be interested to know how long it actually took to do all that research, especially into the German part of the family.
Jen - someone, somewhere on Roots has posted the statistics. I seem to remember there were about 6 researchers and many more historians working on the programme and that it took about 2 months to film. I'm sure whoever gave the statistics originally will tell us again.
Lizzie
-
Jerry Springer was born in East Finchley tube station, London (13 Feb 1944), the family emigrated to the USA in 1949.
John
A Blitz baby - that'll be interesting.
Carole
-
Very interesting question, Jen.
Also applicable, I think, to some of the UK research.
In theory, the German (and other countries) research should really only take the same amount of time: Nick Barrett, the genealogist on WDYTYA said on Radio 5 last night that they use local genealogists.
It was a fascinating tale, but how much more complicated was it than UK genealogy? Possibly a little simpler given the elevated status of those they were looking at. I know from my own experience it's much easier to trace literate families than illiterate (three hundred years difference in my case ...), so it surely must be easier still if they're noble families?
Just watching it again.
They go to the Munich archives to see the record of the ennoblement of the de Pfeffel family.
That led to the record in Munich of von Taufkirchen(?), Caroline's son-in-law trying to find out who his m-i-l von Rothenburg was.
That said she was the daughter of the actress Friedericha Pault (?).
They then realise it would be a good idea to look at the marriage of Caroline and (Carl?) in Augsburg.
That reveals the oddity that the marriage was carried out by the Bishop in his private chapel with some seriously important witnesses, and the comment that the bishop retained the records of the marriage.
It's then pretty obvious that you go to the archives of the bishop's palace. But they don't actually do that, as there's the deus ex machina of the genealogist finding the non-microfilmed record of Caroline's father.
If you freeze frame on where they show Boris the pencil note "Natürlicher Vater war Prinz Paul v. Württemberg" you can see another note, apparently in the same hand, and also in pencil "Vgl. Handbuch des in Bayern immatr[ikulierten] Adels unter Pfeffel Bd. IV S. 199C" - i.e. Cf. the Handbook of Bavarian Nobility, under Pfeffel, Vol 4, page 199C.
Hmmm ... and did the German genealogists not look at that first? Before sending Boris on his (very good telly) peregrinations round Bavaria? Do I smell a little rat in the name of telling a good story?
Boris is rightly rather suspicious of this pencil note, asking whether the BBC had crept in and written it to make the show more interesting.
Anyway, Boris gets on the train to Stuttgart quondam capital of Württemberg, where the parentage is confirmed in the royal archives. Then he goes to Ludwigsberg to meet the guy who tells him his great x8 grandfather was King George II. In terms of genealogical research, connecting Paul v. Württemberg to George II would take only a couple of minutes. Of course, for telly, we 'need' to see the glorious palaces and Boris has to be taken on a literal journey as welll as metaphorical journey.
I have to stress that I'm not criticising the programme makers (or Boris), as their responsibility is to make as riveting a TV programme as they can. Which they did.
If they're anything like some British archives,the most difficult thing after finding the marriage in Augsburg might well have been to persuade the archives to let them look at the original register, which revealed the unfilmed detail of who the father was. Though the chap who showed the register to Boris said something like "I look after the archives", so if he's the official archivist, then he wouldn't have any problem nipping into the stacks to have a quick peek at the original.
I do hope a lot British records offices saw that and might understand why we would occasionally like sight of the original registers!
I still want to know more about the Barony de Pfeffel. As soon as they found the royal connection they concentrated on that, including of course the fact that although he was a direct descendant, he had no place in the accession lines due to illegitimacy. When he was leaving Britain for Germany, Boris said he's off to reclaim the vacant barony. It would be nice to know if he is in line for the Barony de Pfeffel.
-
It was very entertaining, and I think he knew lots about his family already
See the last line of this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Kemal_Bey
quote from the article: Zeki Kuneralp wrote an account of his father's life in English for the benefit of the British side of the family.
-
They go to the Munich archives to see the record of the ennoblement of the de Pfeffel family.
That led to the record in Munich of von Taufkirchen(?), Caroline's son-in-law trying to find out who his m-i-l von Rothenburg was.
That said she was the daughter of the actress Friedericha Pault (?).
What really surprised me was that they had such complete archives. One of my friends is half-German, and abandoned any hope of family tree research because so much was destroyed during WW2. I suppose it depends on where in Germany you are researching ?
If you freeze frame on where they show Boris the pencil note "Natürlicher Vater war Prinz Paul v. Württemberg" you can see another note, apparently in the same hand, and also in pencil "Vgl. Handbuch des in Bayern immatr[ikulierten] Adels unter Pfeffel Bd. IV S. 199C" - i.e. Cf. the Handbook of Bavarian Nobility, under Pfeffel, Vol 4, page 199C.
This series was also made in high-definition, so if you watch it on BBC HD you can see much more detail on the records. Well spotted :)
-
WDYTYA is a television program which investigates the family history of "public persons" i.e. people who are already known to us through media coverage of sports, acting, politics or other activities.
These topics about WDYTYA on RootsChat are comments about the programs, about their findings and research methods, and about their relevance to our personal researches.
Obviously, because the persons concerned are also "known" in other contexts, these other contexts will be mentioned here, but the topics are not about these other contexts - they are about the TV programs WDYTYA
RootsChat is a forum for discussing family history, so if you want to discuss these people in other contexts, please do this in an appropriate forums - which is probably not RootsChat.
The RootsChat Moderator Team
-
They go to the Munich archives to see the record of the ennoblement of the de Pfeffel family.
That led to the record in Munich of von Taufkirchen(?), Caroline's son-in-law trying to find out who his m-i-l von Rothenburg was.
That said she was the daughter of the actress Friedericha Pault (?).
What really surprised me was that they had such complete archives. One of my friends is half-German, and abandoned any hope of family tree research because so much was destroyed during WW2. I suppose it depends on where in Germany you are researching ?
If you freeze frame on where they show Boris the pencil note "Natürlicher Vater war Prinz Paul v. Württemberg" you can see another note, apparently in the same hand, and also in pencil "Vgl. Handbuch des in Bayern immatr[ikulierten] Adels unter Pfeffel Bd. IV S. 199C" - i.e. Cf. the Handbook of Bavarian Nobility, under Pfeffel, Vol 4, page 199C.
This series was also made in high-definition, so if you watch it on BBC HD you can see much more detail on the records. Well spotted :)
Did your friend give up assuming the records would be lost or having found they were lost? If the former, it looks like it's worth looking.
I was watching in plain old digital TV. Maybe this is an argument for moving to HD (rather than things like "you can see every hair on the newsreader's head").
-
I'm in the 'loved it' camp. He was MP in the neighbouring constituency to us and everyone I know who has turned to him for help has been very impressed.
He may look and act the buffoon - but I think he is far from ot
As from where he got his looks - take a look at the picture of Granny Johnson - I thought there was a resemblence....
On one of the "unseen footage" clips on the BBCWDYTYA website, he's with his sister, who tells him that if he grew his hair and fashioned it into ringlets, he'd look like the photograph of Caroline v. Rothenburg. :D
-
The child of Caroline was not illegitimate as it was born in wedlock. It was Caroline herself who was the illegitimate child of Prince Paul.
Boris, assuming his descent could be proven and he was the only surviving descendant, would be a claimant to the now extinct Barony.
Now it probably means as much as the Manor of Wimbledon which another Boris bought - Becker.
-
Now it probably means as much as the Manor of Wimbledon which another Boris bought - Becker.
What? :o Who am I meant to be doffing my cap to?! ;)
meles of Wimbledon
-
I am watching a fascinating, but very sad, programme on C4 - "Watch me Disappear". It's about people who die alone and unnoticed. Some had been dead for a year before they were found.
The programme producer has researched their lives to remember them. Little is known of them. It's a very moving version of WDYTYA, but not about ancestors, but of people of this generation. It's touched me far more. :'(
meles
-
According to the latest issue of Who Do You Think You Are magazine, the essential statistics for the Boris programme were
10 days spent filming
4 months spent on preliminary research
40 hours of footage recorded
350 hours spent editing
3 genealogists used
23 historians consulted
4 countries visited
5 sub-plots left out of final cut
cups of tea consumed 1,000s!
Great episode ;D
Tempsford.
-
Dear old Boris, he didn't let us down did he? British twittery is alive and well ;D
i liked this programme and have to agree with Suey
-
That's interesting, Tempsford. So they do tell us how much work it all takes.
meles
-
I'm in the 'loved it' camp. He was MP in the neighbouring constituency to us and everyone I know who has turned to him for help has been very impressed.
He may look and act the buffoon - but I think he is far from ot
As from where he got his looks - take a look at the picture of Granny Johnson - I thought there was a resemblence....
On one of the "unseen footage" clips on the BBCWDYTYA website, he's with his sister, who tells him that if he grew his hair and fashioned it into ringlets, he'd look like the photograph of Caroline v. Rothenburg. :D
I said he looked just like Caroline somewhere earlier on this thread - I really think there is a quite a resemblance that seems to have skipped a few generations.
Carole
-
One unanswered question, though: who bought the family silver?
hume24
Think we'll just have to keep watching "Antiques Roadshow" - you never know! ;D
John
-
i'm sure you can find outthrough the auction roomsit was sold at, if you knwo when it was sold etc it shouldnt be too hard to find 12 silver teaspoons a cooffee pot a smaller pot a sgar bowl we know what year etc.
-
Jerry Springer. And I thought this was the English series... ::)
meles
I think he IS English, or was born here ??
-
Jerry Springer. And I thought this was the English series... ::)
meles
I think he IS English, or was born here ??
See posts 79 and 89 on this thread ;)
Jennifer
-
I skipped a lot ... ::)
-
I was also wondering if BBC Wales were doing another "Coming Home" series showing celebs with Welsh ancestry re-visting their roots (previous programmes saw Patrick Mower, Janet Street Porter, Rolf Harris among others) as a few months ago my mother saw a film crew in the next street in Tonypandy (Rhondda Valleys) filming Glyn Houston at his old family home.
Well, a series was commissioned and has been fimed; I took part in the filming of one of the episodes last September!! The Olivia Newton John programme was supposedly the first in the new series, but it appears to have been shelved thus robbing me of another 5 minutes of TV fame!! Sigh.... :(
-
Really enjoyed the programme.
Did anyone pick up on Boris's suggestion and pronunciation that the actress description of his ancestor might have been a euphemism for a prostitute.
Reminded me on the post
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,321117.0.html
-
Laughed out loud, thanks,
Abiam ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Did I hear right ?
Did he say his aunt was called Bird ?
-
Lydart, it was his aunt 'Birdie' Johnson. I should think this is a pet name rather than her given name.
Suey
ps I skipped a lot ...
Have you put your skipping rope away for the night ;D.
-
Update on this - first program is on Monday 15th September 2008 at 9:30 pm on RTE1
I've looked into the Sky availability and understand that although RTE is carried on Sky it can only be decoded with Irish Sky cards - possibly just southern Ireland.
In northern Ireland border areas RTE can be picked up on analogue TV/ariels
(posted in the Ireland section - but I thought I'd post here also as this it where it came up originally)
Shane
Interesting news about the Irish version of WDYTYA.
Can you keep us posted as to when it starts, Shane?
Can you get RTE on Sky? Hope so.
Jill