BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 10 Episode 7 William Roache

[Geoff-E]

Alberts employment on the 1901 , looks like cycle dealer then O.D. 10/10 ??Any idea's?

Yes, that's what it says.  The last bit is the Occ. classification code, added later.

[mshrmh]

Sounds like a lot of us were either shouting at the TV or at least grumbling internally about the apparent "leaps of faith" in this episode. As someone who has family from Staffs I wondered why they showed the census & marriage certificate at the William Salt Library when it is the Archives (virtually next door) that has census access & parish registers (though this copy of the cert had been issued by the registrar at Cheadle).

As I record the programme I went back to the point at which the marriage certificate of William Roache's parents was shown & one of the witnesses was, I think, Lillian Radcliffe Stanier - presumably one of the family that William's mother was with on 1901 Census night. Incidentally Leigh, Staffs, where the Staniers were in 1901 is close to Alton and was where Zillah was from (not sure that was mentioned).

I know the series is aimed at a wider audience beyond keen family historians, but this particular season seems to have had more unexplained leaps & assumptions than previous ones - a little more in the voiceover could go a long way to making it clear the "other research has shown..." even if the footage to support it can't be shown.

[acorngen]

A few thoughts on last night:

I think the conclusions were made from the 'bigger picture', which I don't think were far from the mark.  Despite Zilla's obvious business talents, there was no women's equality, and Zilla obviously realised that if she divorced Albert, he would get all her money,

Nick, 

Not exactly correct.  The law was changed a long time before Zilla had her businesses and as such she kept all her money and Albert had no control over it.  This was explained twice I believe on the program. 

Have to say this series as disappointed totally for its lack of content, its research procedure and its jumping to conclusions.  It is following the state of Time team that once it as a major following and can be sold the format is changed to fit other countries ideals, in this case the US market I believe.  If it doesn't improve I wont be watching again.

[BagpussBee]

Did anyone else notice how the speech seemed to be heavily edited. I've been noticing that a lot recently and it really bugs me!!....

Wasn't a bad episode I thought, in what hasn't been the best series by any means.

[cati]

Sounds like a lot of us were either shouting at the TV or at least grumbling internally about the apparent "leaps of faith" in this episode. As someone who has family from Staffs I wondered why they showed the census & marriage certificate at the William Salt Library when it is the Archives (virtually next door) that has census access & parish registers (though this copy of the cert had been issued by the registrar at Cheadle).

I wondered about that as well; unless they had filmed other footage in the William Salt which was subseqently cut, I presume that the William Salt is - well, just more photogenic than Stafford RO...

Cati

[LizzieW]

As an aside, did anyone notice that the researcher that William Roache met in the pub had also featured on BBC's 'Heir Hunters' ?

I wondered wby he looked so familiar.

[LizzieW]

in Zillah's will probate goes to Florence, Hester and Albert, no mention of May. Albert is described as a retired caterer.

I think this is more of a clue to the fact that May might only have been a half sister of Florence and Albert.  Perhaps May was Albert's sister not his daughter.  I wonder why they didn't get her birth certificate to prove whether or not the family story was true.

[KGarrad]

Maybe they did get the certificate, but it didn't make the final cut?

Perhaps William Roache had some editorial control, and was embarassed by what was found?

Unless you have access to ALL the research notes and documents, you simply don't know what was actually found!

[Geoff-E]

I wonder why they didn't get her birth certificate to prove whether or not the family story was true.

Mother's maiden name registered as RATCLIFFE

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0rec/