BBC "Who Do You Think You Are?" Jerry Hall (WDYTYA Series 12 episode 4)

[Barnes612]

Just as I thought Paul Hollywood's effort was going to be the duff one of the series, this comes along.

There seemed to be an awful lot of driving along and twangy music to fill in the large gaps when nothing much was being explored.

I had high hopes with the Oldham cotton mills section but everything seemed to peter out and Jerry didn't help as, although I felt she was personable and interested in her family, unlike Jane Seymour and Derek Jacobi she didn't convert that interest into intelligent questioning so we mainly just got people showing her bits of paper with her cooing then another longshot of her driving along or riding along...

She was also concerned about the slaves but not about the displacement of Native Americans. Both were products of their time, so I think either accept both or condemn both, it's hypocritical to be appalled at slave ownership but to then celebrate other ancestors 'pioneering' that was at the expense of those already there.

As for her wondering about James Hall being a cad. Well, fair enough, in the Bruce Forsyth series I think there was a man in every programme who deserted his family!

[Rhododendron]

Barnes.  You expressed my feelings about the programme perfectly.

[jennifer c]

No, this one was not for me, boring, only watched half. First time I have seen one of these programmes where they are taken to see long lost family who turn around and say"haven't seen you in a while" !!

Jennifer

[sallyyorks]

Just as I thought Paul Hollywood's effort was going to be the duff one of the series, this comes along.

There seemed to be an awful lot of driving along and twangy music to fill in the large gaps when nothing much was being explored.

I had high hopes with the Oldham cotton mills section but everything seemed to peter out and Jerry didn't help as, although I felt she was personable and interested in her family, unlike Jane Seymour and Derek Jacobi she didn't convert that interest into intelligent questioning so we mainly just got people showing her bits of paper with her cooing then another longshot of her driving along or riding along...

She was also concerned about the slaves but not about the displacement of Native Americans. Both were products of their time, so I think either accept both or condemn both, it's hypocritical to be appalled at slave ownership but to then celebrate other ancestors 'pioneering' that was at the expense of those already there....

Agree. I was disappointed by the short amount of time spent on the mills /Oldham section
Also, child labour in the industrial mills (and mines) was itself  a type of slavery, as many radicals and reformers repeatedly pointed out at the time.
There is a wealth of interesting historical evidence that could have been explored about the lives of the  British working class, but yet again the BBC ignore it and spend most of its UK  WDYTYA programme exploring another countries social history

[Clarkey500]

I thought this episode was good but I'm unsure why she wasn't on the US version, maybe they did an 'exchange episode' as JK Rowling apparently appeared on the US version this year, even though I'm sure she did a UK one!

Anyway! It was interesting to see their movements around the country and the connections to the Boone's and I agree that there should have been more of the cotton mills section as it would allow viewers, who have relatives who worked in the mills, to gain more of an insight.

[healyjfch]

I was surprised at close up of Jerry's teeth.
As a top model, you would think she'd have perfect teeth.

I liked the part where Family were sharing photographs.
Overall I liked the programme especially the views of the countryside.
The Native Americans were mentioned as if they were wolves or bears about to pounce on their prey.

[roopat]

I was surprised that they kept referring to the 'Indians', I thought that wasn't accepted now, Native Americans instead. Having never had the chance to visit the US I genuinely don't know. 

Pat

[Jane Masri]

Enjoyed this episode, much to my surprise    I too thought it more suited to the American WDYTYA series.  It gave a great insight into those early American settlers.  How lucky she was to have been shown all those documents etc that pieced together the life story of her ancestors!
Bit surprised that she lives in Richmond 

Jane

[JAKnighton]

I was surprised that they kept referring to the 'Indians', I thought that wasn't accepted now, Native Americans instead. Having never had the chance to visit the US I genuinely don't know. 

Pat

Apparently the natives don't see much difference between being called "Indian" or "Native American" since both are inaccurate descriptions of what the original peoples would have called themselves. Same applies for "Eskimo" and "Inuit".