BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 9 Episode #3: Sebastian Coe

[cathaldus]

Annette 7,
I agree with you, following one line has limited interest to the viewer who is keen on the "whole" family.
Mind you I bet he enjoyed the first class travel 

[Marmaduke 123]

I enjoyed the Sebastian Coe one best of the three. It did have some unexpected twists and turns.

I've said before, in my opinion WDYTYA is past its best. It's got a bit too cliched and predictable, and needs a good shakeup of the format. I'm not sure how though! Maybe that's what they are trying to do with focusing on one line, but I don't think it's working.

Also, we have to remember we are not typical viewers! It's all too easy to find information that has been left out or glossed over, which leaves us feeling a bit cheated.

Anne

[bevbee]

In this case I didn't mind them sticking to one line because it was so rich in detail and there was a lot to interest me.

[Siamese Girl]

Out of interest Sophia Astley appears in the Wiki entry for her father the painter John Astley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Astley_(painter)

Carole

[Daisy Loo]

That's interesting reading Carole...so Seb Coe has another line there...full of interesting stories.

Ironic really that John Astley should disown his daughter if she went off with George Hyde Clarke, when it appears he was no better!!

[Ruskie]

I enjoyed this episode - an interesting family. I think Sebastian Coe came across as a bit uncomfortable - I'm not sure if this is solely due to the subject matter found, or whether he is just a bit nervous and camera shy.

I think in an hour long programme it would be impossible to cover all generations. There was plenty to just fill in this one line.

So although I would like to see research on other branches, it is probably better to just focus on one line and do it in more depth. In the intro they make a point of stating which line the celeb wants to trace, but I think this is probably staged, taking into account the most interesting and easily followed branch of the family.

What I do think could be really interesting is revisiting some of these personalities at a later date, to trace another branch/es, and also to see if the celeb has done further research of their own.

[Jean McGurn]

I have just watched my recording and really enjoyed it. Liked the way Sebastian reacted to some of the 'scandals' so much better than some others subjects when discovering what their ?X times grandparents did.

One other thing I enjoyed was fact that Seb's ancestors had not only portraits in existance but so much written about them that could put the meat on the bones rather than just being a name and time.

What I do think could be really interesting is revisiting some of these personalities at a later date, to trace another branch/es, and also to see if the celeb has done further research of their own.

That's a good idea WDYTYA Revisited ? 

Jean

[Siamese Girl]

That's interesting reading Carole...so Seb Coe has another line there...full of interesting stories.

Ironic really that John Astley should disown his daughter if she went off with George Hyde Clarke, when it appears he was no better!!

Reading that I was reminded of the saying that women tend to marry (or not marry in this case) men who are just like their fathers ....

Carole

(who did  but I had a lovely dad and have an equally lovely husband )

[Daisy Loo]

That is a good idea Ruskie!! 

  @ Carole - good point!

It's funny as well, how much can be found in one family....it also appears that one of the George Hyde Clarkes married a woman that survived the Titanic disaster!  Can you imagine researching a line like that...you'd have files and files and files!!