BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 7 Episode #4: David Mitchell

[cms]

This was a good episode with insights, surprises and beautiful scenery.
However I don't think it is fair to judge John Forbes by  present day standards, and we don't know what his wife had done to have him write his will the way he did. Don't forget, the husband was supposed in those days to be the head of the family and the master of the house. His children were charged with looking after her. Not bad, just a man of his time.

[downside]

It must have been a huge culture shock if she was bought up there to find herself living in the very alien culture of Skye.

There are plenty of urban types who dream of getting away from it all and moving to a remote Scottish island and I doubt if it was any different in Victorian times.

he wasn't an emotional person!

Thank goodness for that and how refreshing after the previous two blubber queens!

I found the program entertaining, which is not a bad thing.

[Nick29]

I think David Mitchell would make a lovely preacher...... I was falling asleep listening to him ! 

[margaret103]

Loved the Broadband problem on Skye. The woman, who held the box of Kirk Session Records, is sitting on every Family Historian's dream.
John Forbes, pillar of the community, let himself down in the end, by being extremely judgmental about his long suffering wife.
Great programme.

[Eddo]

I think the David Tennant episode was a beauty.
He was enthusiastic about following all the leads, and was really funny in some parts. (Specially when he was in an old church, with missing floorboards and jumped down to have a good look at some human bones, particularly the skulls, till he realised they may have been some of his ancestors, and put them back very smartly).
He really seemed to enjoy the whole experience, and here in "Oz" we enjoyed watching him. (Being Dr. Who fans of course).
Eddo

[AnneMc]

I am so missing the show, as I saw the first two episodes while in Yorkshire last month.  Wish I could get the programm over here in Canada. Oh, know my cousin will be watching it.

Cheers
anne

[kerryb]

I own up to being a big fan of David Mitchell and I thought it was a great programme - John Forbes' poor wife! no wonder she turned to the bottle  

BTW I got a little lost on it but did I remember seeing on the 1861 census that she was born in London? It must have been a huge culture shock if she was bought up there to find herself living in the very alien culture of Skye.

Carole

I noticed that too Carole and wish we could have learnt more about why she ended up there and how!

Kerry

[Siamese Girl]

For anyone who doesn't know who David Mitchell is can I suggest the Homeopathic A&E sketch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGIbOGu8q0 from the last series of That Mitchell and Webb Look?

Carole

[lesleyhannah]

I'm looking forward to it, especially if there is Scottish scenery
Lizzie

You won't be disappointed Lizzie. This episode was a good contrast with previous ones. It was interesting to find ancestors who weren't 'victims' - so no need for tears!

The will made me laugh out loud - you could almost picture the grumpy old man when he was writing it. Just hope the children had more compassion, and really did look after their mother. This was one of those occasions where I wanted to know more - how long did the mother live for, and where did she die (in her children's home, or cast into the workhouse?) and what did she die of (did she drink herself to death?).

Well, David Mitchell was the only celebrity I've heard of. Who's next week?