Who Do You Think You Are, Series 3 is coming !

[SallyF]

Anyone else seen this in the online version of "Your Family Tree"?

Who Do You Think You Are? is back

As the nights draw in for autumn again, the first week of September offers particular delights for family historians. The third series of Who Do You Think You Are? starts at 9pm on BBC1 on Wednesday 6th. It promises, in the words of the show’s genealogist Jenny Thomas, “a lively bunch of ancestors”.

“This series, like the last, is essentially a history series,” Jenny told Your Family Tree. “It is not the names and the dates that matter, but the social context – the times that these people were living through, and what they made of them. The celebrity is a route for the viewer into the past.”

 The celebrities in question, in likely order of broadcast at the time of going to press (but do check the TV listings), are actors Barbara Windsor, Robert Lindsay and David Tennant, athlete Colin Jackson, actors Julia Sawalha and Jeremy Irons, kitchen goddess Nigella Lawson, and antiques expert David Dickinson.

 With average viewing figures of 4.7 million for the first series and 5.6 million for the second, the BBC has moved the third series to an even more prestigious slot on BBC1. Unsurprisingly, Barbara Windsor’s roots lie firmly in the east end of London. Her programme explores the life of her grandfather Charlie Ellis on the docks and her grandmother’s time as a chorus girl – though a surprise line from Ireland is also discovered.

 Robert Lindsay (real surname Stevenson), star of Citizen Smith, My Family and Jericho, meanwhile hails from Derbyshire. He learns about the harsh life of his family both at home and away during World War I.

 Julia Sawalha’s lineage is a more exotic mix of silk-weaving Huguenots on her mother’s side and Jordanian Bedouins on her father’s: in the programme she learns about her grandmother’s celebrity status in Jordan, and visits a Bedouin camp.

 There’s much more, of course, including a quest for Irish roots for Jeremy Irons, Nigella’s Jewish heritage (including running from a jail sentence) and David Dickinson’s intriguing Armenian origins. Tune in for the full stories!

One advantage to the approach of autumn.......

Sally

[kerryb]

Absolutely, I'm almost looking forward to the dark cold evenings!

Kerry 

[Lloydy]

I can't wait for the next series....perhaps the arrival of Autumn/Winter isn't so bad afterall

Jan

[SallyF]

Glad I've just sent for a large batch of certs.  (Should be here Monday or Tuesday, yippee!!)

Though this month's 1837online newsletter does have a quote from someone at GRO saying they're already planning ahead for when the new series of WDYTYA starts.......looks like they've finally cottoned on. 

We'll have to wait and see what happens.

Sally

[PaulaToo]

Lor' you've said it, Sally. better send for everything I can afford before the GRO grinds to an almost halt again.
Still, looks like a merry bunch, should be interesting.

[kerryb]

Sally

I will believe that when I see it.  Better get my order in now!!

Kerry

[linmey]

Looks like a really interesting mix of people. Cant wait to tell my kids that the TV will be out of bounds for what they call `Mums genealogy night` I am anticipating the groans already.

Linda.

[Mobo]

 

Looking forward to seeing this programme again.  Good Autumn viewing.

 

[CU]

Wonderful. I can't wait