BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 9 Episode #7: Robin Gibb

[Nick29]

I kept shouting "Freedom of Information Act"   

Robin Gibb came over as being a bit cold and distant.

And, Mr Gibb, all of us who have ancestors who lived through the 1800s have HEROES in our families !

[davidft]

However I looked up warrant officer and it turns out that anyone promoted to warrant officer had to be be literate. This throws a whole new light on Matthew Gibb's supposed "drunkenness". The fact he became a warrant officer and then was demoted and then learnt to read and write was specifically mentioned so I can't imagine that the researchers don't know this - so why leave it out?

I don't think you have this correct. When he was demoted for drunkenness he held the rank of Corporal which is NOT a warrant officer. That being the case the rest of the supposition falls. (Warrant Officer was not introduced into the army until 1879 ie long after the drunkenness episode)

I do agree with you thought that it was a poorly put together programme - perhaps it was a rush job

[millymcb]

It was a bit slow but there was some interesting stuff in there. And he did seem genuinely interested in it all which is always nice to see.
 
I agree with Lydart though - it was a lovely house - I especially liked his big stone fireplace/chimney... And he has beautiful gardens.   

Milly

[Seoras]

Thankfully,I found out I'm not related.that would have been a 'Tragedy'

[JonathanC]

I found the programe slow also, but was very interested in the 'Ragged School' as I had  a relative who was in Paisley Industrial School at the time of the 1891 census.

Related thread:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,521483.0.html

[weste]

I fell asleep not long after it started!

[toni*]

i havent yet watched the program but i dont think any of them are very well put together and havent been since Nick Barratt stopped having input.

[cati]

I found this interesting in that it was about ordinary people, and didn't suddenly take us off to an archive in Outer Mongolia where the majority of us ordinary folk ain't ever likely to go...

I think this is the first time a FOI request has been mentioned?  

I retired to bed with a headache after viewing his jackets.

I wanted to know about the PASS family as well: they might have been related to my Passes!

Cati

[Lisajj]

I would like to know how long his FOI response took.
Midwife history was quite interesting.  I can't say it was a gripping or exciting episode, but, to be fair, if you did my family history in a tv programme it would be full of quite ordinary people too! 
His jackets were quite startling at times, but, brightened up the rainy days when he was filming.
I agree with Toni*, since Nick Barratt stopped being involved in the show it has changed quite a lot.  The researchers seem to miss out quite a lot of important points.