BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 5 Episode #3: Jerry Springer

[JLo]

I saw Jerry Springer interviewed about the programme and he did say that the programme makers had managed to trace his family back to the 1700's, but had obviously focussed on the stories that made 'good tv'.  Family trees to me are all about finding out about social history and making it more personal/real.  I definitely learnt info about the Holocaust that I didn't already know and was reminded by Jerry's story how this utterly horrific event happened in a Western 'civilised' country within the lifetime of many people still alive today.  The website also gave me a few new pointers for my own research as my husband's family is descended from German Jews.

[Hasler]

I really think that, the programme was deeply touching and very informative, i learned a few things

I'm sure his emotion's were genuine, know one could act that well.

[Jean McGurn]

I have always thought that the BBC would have researchers working on each celeb's tree otherwise it would take many months if not years to get just one programme together.

They would also have to make sure there would be no really bad shocks causing the celeb to walk out midway through the programme.

As for the holocaust, my knowledge of it has always been from what I have read in books or seen on film. I hadn't realised the first gassings had been  done in a van. What must have those poor people thought when it started up and got moving I shudder to think.

I would defy anyone who has been to the places where members of their family have died so tragically, not to break down and cry. 

Jean

 

[toni*]

Esther Ratzen next week, she was froma priveleged upbringing she says and she has a shock in store, i wont reveal it but i read it in the tv mag.
looking forward to it but why do ITV have to put a programme on at 9 that i want to watch too ?
i dont have sky plus

[silvery]

It's that old ratings war they have.  But quite often the BBC itself has programmes on one of it's other sides that I also want to watch.  Makes you wonder.

[mazwad]

It was a very moving episode, what is really sad is that genocide is still going on and far more recently.  In 1994 800,000 Tutsis were murdered in Rwanda. Bosnia and Dafur even more recently suffered ethnic cleansing.  Even though it is brought so vividly to the worlds attention still it goes on.

Many times I have said and heard it said about the Holocaust how could it have happened and yet nothing really changes.  The sad fact is only a very small percentage of people get roused enough to try and change things and the rest of us including me sit in our little worlds not oblivious to what is going on and frustrated by what we see but powerless to do anything.  If we donate money it often ends up in the wrong hands and could be used against those you were trying to help.

[Jean McGurn]

looking forward to it but why do ITV have to put a programme on at 9 that i want to watch too ?

It's repeated on BBC2 Thursday nights 7-30 p.m.

 Yippee means I can still watch without having to remember to record.

Jean

[Nick29]

(Nick, no torrents for WDYTYA unfortunately ... well there wasn't up till last week. Who knows how long we'll have to wait till they show it here in Australia.)

There is a Torrent up for this episode at the moment. I won't post the details (BBC copyrights and all that...) but its on www.sumotorrent.com if you do a search for Jerry Springer. I haven't tried it, so no guarantees of accuracy

Glen

I think the BBC are paying the Aussies back for letting Channel 5 have Neighbours ! 

[rancegal]

Just a couple of things about WDYTYA.
Firstly, the programmes aren't made by the BBC, but by a company called 'Wall to Wall' who pay the researchers and arrange the journeys the celebs take.
The BBC just buys the programmes, although the BBC Family History web pages (not the message board) have a lot about WDYTYA and links to topics related to the programmes. It does look as if all our complaints that they make it look too easy have borne fruit because there is now a section entitled 'How we did it' which gives more info on the archives etc in each programme

         http://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/new-stories/jerry-springer/how-we-did-it_1.shtml
 
  It actually says his parents never talked about it.

ps JS was born in a Tube station during the Blitz!