BBC "Who Do You Think You Are?" Derek Jacobi (WDYTYA Series 12 Episode 3)

[Ringrose]

I thought he died a few months after his son was born and I'm sure they said there were no others he'd had in England.There nay have been sone in France.We also wondered whether one could be sure that Willuam was his son and not he son of his 25 year old wife after an affair.
Still a fantastic story ....very well done BUT Wish they found out why later generations were so poor.
Ringrose

[roopat]

I really enjoyed this as I didn't know much about the Huguenots. But I so agree with everyone that we needed to know the human interest angle of 'riches to rags'.

And I was a little bit disappointed that at the end Derek Jacobi said
' So I am descended from admirable people'.  How sad he was so starstruck by all the titles and wealth.

Pat

[ankerdine]

I really enjoyed this as I didn't know much about the Huguenots. But I so agree with everyone that we needed to know the human interest angle of 'riches to rags'.

And I was a little bit disappointed that at the end Derek Jacobi said
' So I am descended from admirable people'.  How sad he was so starstruck by all the titles and wealth.

Pat

I agree with everything you've said.

An interesting programme but my concentration drifted off at the end though. I remember the "donjon" at Loches - terrifying!

I learnt some new history by watching the programme which is always a good outcome. Well done BBC for all the detailed research.

Judy

[jaywit]

I thought he died a few months after his son was born and I'm sure they said there were no others he'd had in England.There nay have been sone in France.We also wondered whether one could be sure that Willuam was his son and not he son of his 25 year old wife after an affair.
Still a fantastic story ....very well done BUT Wish they found out why later generations were so poor.
Ringrose

This worried me as well, a man in his 70s who had been in prison for some years marries and produces a son immediately, OK possible but how likely?

[Rishile]

Can someone tell me where that pie and mash shop is that instantly gives you your Gt Grandmother's birth certificate on entering?

I thought this was very interesting.   I also have riches to rags in two generations so I know it can happen - especially with big families.

I loved the suspense of how DJ was here if Joseph didn't marry which was solved at the end.  In a much smaller way I could relate to a lot of this because I have 'jumped' a couple of generations then found them on the way back which was what seemed to happen here.

Good research done by the BBC.  My favourite for a long time.

Rishile

[jaywit]

One thing I will say in the programme's favour is that they used Sarah Wise as the East End expert, if you read any of her books she is the top person for East End history.

[jennifer c]

I enjoyed it, i think we have to take in to account that this is a programme for entertainment not an Open University programme on Genealogy.

Jennifer

[isobelw]

I thought this was a really good episode. Showed that occasionally you can be lucky to find a record ( in this case the French Hospital record) that can take you back many generations. I don't think there is anything odd in the fact that some later descendents ended up poorer than others. I am sure this would be the same in most families over that number of generations. It also works the other way.
Isobel

[nanny jan]

A fascinating programme with lots of old records.........just how WDYTYA used to be!

 I'm possibly biased as I'm a fan of Derek Jacobi.