BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 8 Episode #5: Rupert Penry-Jones

[Maggie1895]

I don't remember every detail of that part of the programme, but I do remember thinking 'whoa..' when Rupert found the entry just like that, as Tommy Cooper might have said.  Yes, it came up on IGI but there was nothing to confirm it was the correct one, could have been co-incidence.

My assumption last night was that the research had been done in detail prior to the programme, the programme makers therefore knew it was the correct record and, as discussed at length on here in other threads, they just filmed him finding the 'quick win' because they are making a TV show, not a tutorial on the pitfalls of instant answers in genealogy.

That was my feeling last night, and probably still is, though I would be interested to hear if anything further develops

[RJ_Paton]

So where did Louisa Todd's parents suddenly become Smith?

Lizzie

I think FindMyPast have got the whole precis muddled.

They did get it muddled - Louisa Johnstone married into the Todd family. Her parents were Thomas Johnstone and Louisa Smith - it was the mother of Louisa Smith who was named Susanna

[kerryb]

I can't really say very much about the content of the programme, I am sure it was very interesting but having fallen madly in love with Rupert when I saw him in Persuasion I only had eyes and ears for him!!!!!! 

Kerry

[pwitz]

Quite agree with you, Kerry 

I was doing a bit on IGI as the programme went along and my husband queried why Rupert had to go all the way to India when he could have done it from his own computer!  He wouldn't have got all that other info though, would he?

Thought it was quite a good programme - bring back Spooks!

Polly

[josey]

Not just the British Army & British Raj records but the records kept within all the villages etc. 

Did anyone else hope that the records in the villages will be digitised before the heat, humidity, age & general conditions of storage reduce them to paper dust? The pages of the earlier register in the church in Nagpore were already disintegrating.

Josey

[heywood]

Sad to say, I fell asleep for the last few minutes 

I thought the Indian records were very interesting but thought how many researchers could get such detail.

As Pat says- his and Dervla's children have a wealth of family information now - and such contrasting info about their families!
However, I was also taken up with the thoughts that their household must be so restful.  His voice and demeanour was so calm - that's what probably sent me off to the land of nod

[danuslave]

I enjoyed the programme.  Yes there were 'obvious' mistakes but, as has been pointed out may times on this and other threads, these are not made as FH tutorials!

I do get cross with the repetition but that happens in so many programmes nowadays I'd be hoarse if I shouted at the TV every time   

(Did the original researcher in England make any one else nervous as she was pointing and tapping documents with her pencil!)

I think this might be why you are only allowed to use pencil in a lot of these places      At least it can be rubbed out!

Linda

PS Still think Monty & Dervla have been the best so far this season

[nestagj]

I really enjoyed this programme - my other half did as well as became quite amused when I started telling him stuff about where they could find more info and the native indian wife thing - he said something along the lines of what kind of info I absorb whilst reading FH mags and forums like these - I have Ag Lab ancestry from North West Wales - the ancestors have barely moved over the last 200 years !! and still I know roughly where to look for Indian ancestry ! Oh for some exotics ! 

The ease in which he found the info showed the diff between this programme and heir hunters where not long ago they tried to trace the babtism of someone who died intestate who was born in India but did not succeed !

I found the Monte Cassino section very interesting as I visited the monasteries and surrounding cemeteries as a very naive 17 year old who was absolutely gutted to see the graves of the young men who died - they were only my age then ! I hadn't till then connected the youth of soldiers (although y dad was 18 when he arrived in Burma) with the carefree lads who were in school with me.  My uncle also fought in Cassino - apparently he was a General's Batman and met his life long partner on the ship going out there. 

How did Rupert access his grandfather's records at the National Archive - I thought 2nd World War Service records were still with the appropriate service and only available to the next of kin - which I am not (to my Uncle as his brother is still alive).  I would dearly love to know more about his years of service as he was a career soldier with the welsh guards.

Oops gone on again sorry !
nesta

[Phil Goater]

 I wish somebody would show up with some letters and pictures of my ancestors who were in India!!!

Did anybody else make the connection between the rebellious Indians and a later rebellion closer to home? I couldn't help smiling at the thought of what Rupert's ancestor would have made of/done to the IRA!

Phil