WDYTYA - new series 2014 - AUSTRALIA - SBS

[Ruskie]

Am a bit annoyed.

For some reason the media have published articles about Paul McDermott's discoveries on his WDYTYA journey, giving the secrets away before the programme airs tomorrow night. 

Presumably this is to get the viewing numbers up for the last episode in the series.

Once again all of the action takes place in one locality. I was sure he would be off to Ireland and it seems he thought so too, but it was not to be - I would say definitely a budget cut for this series, though not that that is necessarily a bad thing. I thought that often when a celeb was flown off to distant lands it was unnecessary as the information they obtained was available online anyway.

Bit of a shame I know what happens now ... Advise others not to read the article doing the rounds at the moment.

[BevL]

I will try to stay away from any articles regarding Paul McDermott, but I agree with you that they seem to be cutting costs and to me, it is not the same when they do that.  Either the programmers or the subjects decided - or were told - to concentrate on one or two particular relatives and they weren't to ask anything about their other relatives.
From memory, they did take Andrew Denton away but that is all I think, when really most of our forebears came from other countries and even if it is online, there is somehow always someone who can tell you something about your ancestors which is what the series is - or was - all about.
Bev

[Ruskie]

Oh yes, I forgot that Andrew Denton flew off to Poland etc. 

[BevL]

I must admit that I didn't know what to expect with Paul McDermott but was pleasantly surprised. 
He immediately got 1 point from me when after finding out some things from one side of the family he then wanted to find out a bit about the other side!  He was quick on the uptake and laughed at some of the antics from his ancestors, but was pleased that Patrick made sure he didn't lose the house for his mother and is very family orientated by the sound of it himself.
All in all, a very good program to finish off the series.
Bev

[Ruskie]

I was not a fan of Paul McDermott but after seeing this programme I have changed my opinion. I thought he came across very well, and I liked the comments he made regarding all of the discoveries about his ancestors, which I think were appropriate to the situation in every instance.

A fairly limited coverage of his family tree, and I would have loved to have learned more about earlier generations of both sides of his ancestry (but with Irish research being so difficult I am not surprised they either did not find anything or did not bother looking).

I am intrigued about how in one year Mary had managed to obtain £20 to purchase a house. I know they said they did not know where the money came from ...

In general, a really interesting programme. 

[Wiggy]

I thought he came across very well, and I liked the comments he made regarding all of the discoveries about his ancestors, which I think were appropriate to the situation in every instance.

A fairly limited coverage of his family tree, and I would have loved to have learned more about earlier generations of both sides of his ancestry (but with Irish research being so difficult I am not surprised they either did not find anything or did not bother looking).

Agree Ruskie - I also wanted to know a bit more furth back - but it was a good programme.

I thought it was the last - but after it finished they went on to say Adam Hills will be on next week so . . . .??  What's going on?

[BevL]

I think they surmised that the errant husband who had deserted them sent the money with which they purchased the house and so he should if it was him.   
I did get a bit confused when they were doing his mother's line with all the Aunts etc. but think I finally worked it out.
Adam Hills WDYTYA is a repeat, but a good one.
Bev

[Ruskie]

I got confused too Bev, but I watched it again this morning on the SBS site, because I missed the beginning of the programme last night and thought that the reason I was having trouble following it was because I missed something vital at the beginning. Turns out that I didn't but worth watching again anyway.

Apparently since the programme was made the family purchased a headstone for Kathleen's grave.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/paul-mcdermott-uncovers-family-secret-on-sbs-series-who-do-you-think-you-are/story-e6frfmyi-1227035008195

I also thought about Paul mentioning that Patrick McDermott's grave was imposing even though they were not a wealthy family - presumably they were Catholics(?)  and I believe they do (or did) like to make a show of the funeral and memorial even if they could not really afford it, so maybe they scrimped and saved and went without to be able to afford the huge stone. I noticed many others also buried in the plot so it is also possible that later generations erected the memorial.

Paul McDermott seems like a very nice man. 

[BevL]

Hi Ruskie,
I am glad they put a headstone of Katherine's grave it was fitting after all he had learned about her. Also he mentioned that the graves of Katherine and the McDermott's weren't much apart at the cemetery and I was impressed on his quick grip of the situations he was shown.
If I had to vote on how I enjoyed this series I think I would place him 2nd after Andrew Denton.
Bev