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

[lynnehadley]

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 and, as discussed at length on here in other threads, they just showed him 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

The bulk of the research for this program was not done via either the IGI or other community genealogy sites. 

[heywood]

Yes I agree re the bulk being done beforehand. I suppose it must be to find a suitable storyline.
I managed to see it again last evening when my husband was watching it and I noticed his lack of reaction to a couple of things- especially the letters. Either he thought these things turn up all the time and are a regular part of genealogy research or he knew.
 

[lynnehadley]

Yes, it's true that all these types of shows must have to be researched in advance. We all know how long it takes to fine information on our ancestors...and how long it takes to verify all the information we collect.  If they didn't research in advance, an episode would have to run for years! Well, if it's anything like researching my family, it would!

Also, it's very difficult to find records in India...the problem is magnified there.  Made more difficult because to marry a European, an Indian woman had to be baptised in the Christian church. In doing so, whe virtually lost her identity, having only a Christian name.  Only the most famous or royally connected Indian women retained their identities, e.g. Begum Sumru, who was christened in the Catholic church.

[Plummiegirl]

To see how long it takes to research these programmes- have a look at this weeks Radio Times

The article about next weeks subject Alexander Armstrong gives a breakdown of how long the whole process take.  About 12 weeks if I remember.

[myluck!]

Three comments:

I have spoken to an Irish researcher involved in the programme in Ireland. He is very upset by the implied speed that everyone finds the information. There are weeks of research for all the programmes and in some cases they are not utilsied. The most famous reported cases was that of Michael Parkinson's family lines. They found nothing but Welsh miners that supposedly made his story uninteresting.

on WDYTYA Rupert's ancestor was Elizabeth, Samual Callum's wife. She was spoken of just at the end of the programme when Rupert was given the baptim certificated of Susannah Callum. Both men agreed that Elizabeth not an Indian name, however Rupert to my ears read out that she (Elizabeth) was baptised that day which if I heard true could mean she was Indian and Elizabeth was the Christian name she took when she was an adult.
I must say that what I would love is if at the end they posted a family chart that would give a final picture. After this programme I was soprry I hadn't taken notes myself to kepp up!!

Last comment- On information in India - I also hope that many of the surviving records have not been washed away recently. My children's great great grandfather was born in Nowshera. Then India but now Pakistan and this area has been totally destroyed recently by the drastic flooding

[Suffolk Mawther]

Regarding research for the programmes, this week's Radio Times 21-27 August has an article on next weeks subject Alexander Armstrong (I wonder if he regrets that brilliant spoof sketch 

Five months of research and they break down into weeks what was done and how they went about it, interesting to note that they used the internet source A2A, but mostly they went to the archive centre for whatever theyneeded, such as British Library and the National Maritime Museum and county Record Offices.

The filming was done in ten days, broken into two five day sessions.

It mentions that photocopies of all the information on events etc are collected along the way ready to hand to 'the subject' on screen.

This one is going to be going back a very long way, so a change from most of this seasons programmes.

Pat ...

[nestagj]

"rushes out to buy radio times"   

[lynnehadley]

The history of Anglo-Indian culture is a fascinating and often tragic one.  If you want to know more about the communty in the 18th and early 19th centuries, I recommend that you read Christopher Hawes' book, "Poor Relations".  You can probably pick up a copy from www.abebooks.com Also, Herbert Alick Stark's, "Hostages to India".  Eye-openers. 

My life revolves around the AI community, and I've co-authored a book about the community.  It's about to be placed in the hands of my literary agent...fingers crossed!! 

[nfp20]

Personally I found this particular program very interesting as it follows a general history of part of my own family who with a relatively rare surname have been easier than some to trace (Chiodetti) it is nice to know what else was going on in history and why certain things happened the way they did makes the whole thing come alive.

What I did find disappointing was his blase and rather rude attitude towards the people who were helping him I would have bitten their hand off to be given such wonderful pieces of history but perhaps this is down to the way it was edited rather than his poor behaviour...lets hope so anyway.