BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 10 Episode #1: Samantha Womack

[IgorStrav]

You said 'if you find this sort of thing irritating, then don't watch'.

I don't find the programme irritating, I found Samantha Womack irritating and I didn't know she was going to be irritating until I watched the programme. 

I then posted my opinion about SW saying I was irritated by her and you said, well, you know what you said.

Full circle 

None of what I said suggests you shouldn't have an opinion. I am astonished you take it that way. 

In fact I was speaking generally in my post about all the comments and not specifically yours or anyone else's.

You are perfectly welcome to like or dislike as you please, and I can only tell you what I like about the programme, which is what I did.

It's unpleasant to be cast as judgemental when that is not my intent at all.

[Lydart]

OK folks .... this is about Samantha Womack, NOT about judging each other !!   

Get back to the topic .... please ??

[baggygenes]

I really enjoyed it, found the people in it interesting even if it didn't go back that far and didn't find her reactions or trying to read the info annoying at all... I'm sure we have all struggled to read entries at some time (you only have to look at the disciphering threads) and I've done a few OOOOO OO OOO moments myself when finding something new or unexpected.   At least she didn't burst into tears at every entry or info found like some previous "celebs" have.
I was surprised that that there was no "OH look he was a musician too" in places and that in trying to find when Jessie went to the US  she immediately put in the maiden name without trying the married name (perhaps an edit?) and perhaps some info about Beatrice returning to UK/ meeting her great grandfather would have tidied the story up a bit but I thought it was really interesting.
As already pointed out WDYTYA couldn't possible show a proper beginning to end search for these programmes or show everything and everybody in the trees.  I love the programme even if leaves me terribly sad that I can't just jump on a train or plane and go searching all over the country or the world for my elusive ancestors (and have some terribly helpful researcher bookmark everything and print off all the certificates and records before I arrive)

[Nick29]

What I found particularly irksome about this particular programme was that it was assumed almost from the outset that the children had been abandoned, based on pretty flimsy evidence, and when the story unravelled it turned out that this was not the case at all, but of course it made a much better story when told that way.  I'm not sure that any self-respecting genealogist would have jumped to such dire conclusions based on so little evidence !

And, of course Sam Womack didn't really have to travel to the USA to find out what she needed to know - it could all have been done by email, but then we wouldn't have found out what colour the front door of number 36_1/2 was    And I suspect that Ms Womack wouldn't have agreed to do the programme without an expenses-paid trip to the US? 

My grandfather's brother emigrated to the US, and I've managed to find out all about his family, have located many living relatives, and have located photographs of the family, all without travelling to the USA.  If anyone over there had offered me a free ticket over and free board and lodgings, I probably would not have turned them down 

[baggygenes]

hmm well I think if I found the children in orphanages/childrens homes it would probably be my first thought until I found the further information ... bit like people who see an ancestor in the census  with a relative and assume they were living with or brought up by them without even considering that it could be they were just there on that census night

[mc8]

hmm well I think if I found the children in orphanages/childrens homes it would probably be my first thought until I found the further information ... bit like people who see an ancestor in the census  with a relative and assume they were living with or brought up by them without even considering that it could be they were just there on that census night

I wondered why they didn't search for the orphanage admission record which would have given further details-the discharge shows they were taken out by the grandparents (did wonder if they actually put them in originally if they were for some reason unable to care for them).  From my examination of scattered homes registers in Camberwell, it is quite clear that some children were repeat visitors, staying for a short time when carers were sick or out of work  or a host of other reasons

[JenB]

And, of course Sam Womack didn't really have to travel to the USA to find out what she needed to know - it could all have been done by email,

You're quite right - but how many episodes of WDYTYA have you watched when the subject hasn't gone off on a trip somewhere 

[Parmesan]

And, of course Sam Womack didn't really have to travel to the USA to find out what she needed to know - it could all have been done by email,

You're quite right - but how many episodes of WDYTYA have you watched when the subject hasn't gone off on a trip somewhere 

Indeed.  Obviously, its an entertainment show as much as anything else but even if they insist on flying folk around the globe to search records, it would be helpful if they informed the viewer that its not absolutely necessary and that many records can be found online.  Maybe it tells you that on their website?

[mc8]

I was interested in the french Judge connection which they didn't cover-but although he married a year later, I couldn't find any record for Pierre Garraud or his father in the 1891 despite trying the usual tricks to account for the transcriber's challenge in recording unusual names. Did anyone else find them?