BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 5 Episode #4: Esther Rantzen

[Susan_131]

This quote from Hivizman:
"In a recent biography of Finzi (Diana McVeagh's Gerald Finzi: His Life and Work, there's a footnote mentioning that one of Leverson's sons was Esther Rantzen's grandfather (Esther mentions this in an article in yesterday's Daily Mail, so I suspect that much of her family history on her mother's side was known to her already)."

You think that someone wrote in a book that Leverson was Rantzen's grandfather, and she wasn't aware of it ?  Hmmm......

"As I said, I didn't play much of part in the research so don't have any inside knowledge.... "

Sorry, but that's not the impression that you gave in your first post, where you gave the impression that you were quite involved

I think it's a little much to assume that she'd read a footnote in a rather obscure recently published book.  Also this footnote is about her grandfather not her great-grandfather (Montague).  I've not seen this book but I doubt it mentions Montague - so that's not going to help her googling is it?  She never claimed not to know about her grandfather.

I've just read the Daily Mail piece she wrote and she doesn't mention the book - just that her grandfather knew Finzi.  It also talks about a researcher who kept questioning her to check her story about what she did and didn't know.  Worth a read I think:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1051986/Esther-Rantzen-The-moment-I-discovered-shocking-truth-killer-great-grandfather.html

In my first post I clearly said "I was involved a little helping with some research ".  I don't think this contradicts my later post does it?

[Nick29]

Worth a read I think:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1051986/Esther-Rantzen-The-moment-I-discovered-shocking-truth-killer-great-grandfather.html

I'm glad I didn't read that before I watched - totally theatrical !  "My Killer great-grandfather" - he had an accident with a gun, for god's sake ! 

[BuddysMummy]

I think Esther's article helps to fill in the gaps left by the rather harsh and possibly lop-sided editing in the programme.

She is undoubtedly a bit of a drama queen. Well, you don't get far in show business if you are a shy, retiring type do you?

A programme of just under an hour cannot possibly show all of the research, any more that dog borstal or supernanny programmes can show the hard work which takes place off camera.

It was a superficial, flawed bit of tv in which the star came out looking a bit foolish but I suggest we all get over it and decide whether we want to watch any more of the series.

We have no right to demolish her character but we do have a right to vote with our feet by turning the tellybox off when we don't wish to watch something!

[Sloe Gin]

I'm glad I didn't read that before I watched - totally theatrical !  "My Killer great-grandfather" - he had an accident with a gun, for god's sake ! 

I doubt Esther was responsible for the headline.

[Windsor87]

We have no right to demolish her character but we do have a right to vote with our feet by turning the tellybox off when we don't wish to watch something!

Turn the tellybox off? But what would we do? You have to watch WDYTYA for this forum. It is almost like a book club where the novel for discussion is the weekly programme. You have to watch it whether you like it or not.  

[Grothenwell]

People seem to get so grumpy with each other sometimes. All those that complain, please chill; yes it could be better, but there aren't many programmes better on telly nowadays! Some WDYTYAs I like, others not so much (I didn't particularly like the Springer one, but most did), but at least they are about our subject and we should be glad for that at least.

Thanks to Susan_131 for a bit of an insiders view 

[mlrfn448]

I have followed this debate with interest. However, I, personally, do not think it is important, whether, Esther Rantzen (or the other celebrities' histories) knew some facts, all of it, or none at all. To me, the program was very interesting. I do not really understand this need to establish that each celebrity 'must have known', etc.
Frankly, I am not bothered one way or the other. The program was really interesting.

I made the mistake in the first series or only watching the program if I liked the celebrity. Then I realised that this did not really matter (to me). What is interesting is how one can uncover family history, and what sources are used, and what discoveries are made.
 
This episode showed how the Times Newspaper Archive can be used to establish detail of the past.
I also found the Warsaw section interesting, and especially the overgrown Jewish cemetary, (which was not as overgrown as the cemetary in South London where my Gt Grandfather is buried).
The deaths of all those family members explained why they decided to make the move to England at that time.

A great program. I enjoyed it. I am hooked on these programs.

[mongoose2]

Dave that cemetery wouldnt be near Peckham would it. I still have the scars from my ramble in there or should that be Bramble. And yes I did eventually find the gravestone.

Bazza

[mlrfn448]

Nunhead cemetary. I knew the plot number, but despite instructions between x and y graves, 4 rows back, could not find it the first time, despite finding the x and y graves.

had to ring up again, and get a map....

Re the program, It would be nice if the remaining Jewish community in warsaw could record the MIs remaining, which were in Yiddish?, I believe, but maybe there are too few members of the community remaining.