WDYTYA - which celebrities would you like to see.

[KGarrad]

An awful lot of research is done on each person chosen.
Whether that person gets "chosen" for a televised episode largely depends on whether there is a back story that the producers think would make an interesting episode.

An ancestor of mine appeared in one episode; John Constable RA.
Unfortunately, this means I am also related to Barbara Windsor!

Finally, I have been involved in research, potentially for the program.
Unfortunately, I was working from very common names, with no discernible links to the later generation, and a choice of 10 or 12 potential people who could have been the father!

[nanny jan]

Didn't David Tennant have crofting ancestors?

I didn't see his episode but his father was a Minister, not aware what Scottish Island he descends from?

Annie

According to this the crofting family came from Mull. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/past-stories/david-tennant.shtml

[Ruskie]

I think there have been many instances on WDYTYA of very humble ancestry of “celebrities”, but yes, they do need a back story.

David Tennant’s story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/past-stories/david-tennant.shtml

There have been some sad stories and the first which comes to mind is Jeremy Paxman - Glasgow slums, orphans and the poorhouse.

Not a particularly nice episode about Martin Freeman’s syphilitic great grandfather either.

Griff Rhys Jones - poor families - generally sad events all round.

There are many others.

[ThrelfallYorky]

As I've said many times, the programme simply wouldn't have enough - if any - audience appeal if it concentrated on one of "our" ancestors, as unknown / non-celebs.
It's the finding out where ( more or less) well-known people originated from that appeals to our sense of nosiness and interest.
"Well-known person" + humble'/ shocking / interesting beginnings = programme of interest to viewers.

[Top-of-the-hill]

  I am sure I have seen at least one celebrity wandering round a highland croft, but I don't recall anyone whose ancestors hailed from an East Kent/South Essex/Salisbury Plain village. Or probably any of the villages any of our ancestors lived in!

[IgorStrav]

  I am sure I have seen at least one celebrity wandering round a highland croft, but I don't recall anyone whose ancestors hailed from an East Kent/South Essex/Salisbury Plain village. Or probably any of the villages any of our ancestors lived in!

Oooh, that's a thought, TotH - a WDYTYA featuring someone with ancestors who 'travelled in work' like my itinerant hard-to-find rellies traversing Surrey and Kent (and Sussex) following all the various agricultural jobs......

not holding my breath though