Well, there are quite a few posho and not so posh celebrity father and son double acts. I don’t think we can blame the Whitehalls for accepting a generally accepted format! I thought this was quite good if containing a few unpleasant truths (then again, so did half of the Daniel Radcliffe programme, tho’ if his ancestor was innocent or doing something all his trade were doing, it reflected more badly on the Met and insurance companies than on his ancestor!). I think a few lines could have been put in to explain the status of a grocer and a constable. Also - but perhaps a bit too much given the limited time available - not all women with syphillilytic husbands who were put away were necessarily syphillitic but the shame brought upon the family by the husband was enough to have them put away. Sometimes the women had a number of uninfected children which could bring the diagnosis, incarceration and, worst of all, prescribing of drugs into question. Medical confidentiality otoh was established after the First World War when medics kept diagnoses of VD of returning soldiers and sailors secret from the wives with sad consequences.
