Genealogy Chat

Well I really like the programme, so will be glued to it each time it's on. PP xx

I was also spurred on to start this by watching WDYTYA. I did't watch much of the first one, but did see Bill Oddie's. But I decided to get started during the 2nd series and now I am totally hooked. It would be nice if they did do the research themselves, as people get the impression that these things happen instantly, from watching the programme. I think that there is as much pleasure to be found in searching as there is in actually finding! Lynn ( who should be cleaning the house) :-)

I quite like watching WDYTYA? I think it's really interesting to see the celebs follow their family tree, even if they don't do it themselves. Although it would be nice if they actually did some of the work themselves,just for them to see how hard and time consuming it can be, but very rewarding once you do get a lead or a link. As I live in London, I am often down the FRC, so any certificates I order whilst I am there I actually collect next time I am down there. I was actually thinking of ordering on line as I don't go to the FRC as often as I was, I'm on a bit of a go slow at the moment as I have spent so much spare time going there over the years, but I don't think I will order online now I have heard about the problems you are getting, but thinking about it, these postal problems have been going on for some years, that's the reason why I started to collect my certificates.

I understand everyone's gripes about the show, especially the resulting delays in certificates but if I had not chanced upon the Sue Johnston episode in the first series, I would never have known about the 1901 census on line & never embarked on my research. One purchase of a £5 credit and I was hooked. So don't knock it -without the show I might never have started. Helen

I was in the FRC in London last year when Julian Clary came in to pick up his certificate for the filming of WDYTYA? He probably spent around 30 minutes in there which included looking at his certificate, doing about 5-10 minutes of filming, going to the toilet to change his t-shirt for the 'next day' shot and just generaly sitting down waiting around. I sent my son over to get his autograph, then a lady I was friendly with went over to him, it was only when I saw her wagging her finger at him that I went over and caught the tail end of her telling him he should be doing all the work himself. The poor guy just sat there not knowing what to say. He looks completley different close up, I had to walk past him before on the pretence of picking up a leaflet to see if it really was him or not.

I read in a magazine, that David 'cheap as chips' Dickinson, from Bargain Hunt, is also going to be on the new series. I agree that it is a good excuse to watch David Tennant for an hour, he is nice. Lynn

Frustrating isnt it? delays getting certs from GRO by the regular family history people like us. AND WHY OH WHY DO THEY MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY? We then get the newcomers who after watching the program think its so easy that they are going to have a go. Which lasts for maybe a couple of weeks, but in the meantime the block up the GRO for us all. And, this is something you might not know, but ive a relation who works for one of the programmers of the program and they get all the top dog ressearchers with all the info that us normals cant get our hands on and present it to the person concerned just when they are about to make the program, their efforts to find there relatives only begins then, they just carry on with their normal lives until they get a chance for someone to do all the work and then get paid for a program which brings them a tidy sum of money. No getting certificates for them, no waiting 5/6 weeks. God its so unfair, do you think. this relation of mine, gave me an example, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. One person who they intended using had a name, not common like mine, shall we say COLGATE? and the wife decided to do some research herself, so she went to the 1881 census straight away, where she found dozens and dozens of WILLIAM COLGATES all at different addresses in different places, and she actually believed ALL those WILLIAM COLGATES were actually her g/grandfather, and she wouldnt be told that they all couldnt be her g/grandafther because the census was taken at the same time all over the country, and he could only be in one place at a time, which she couldnt understand. Al she kept saying was 'he was a very wealthy man, I know that for certain and owned property all over the Country' She never considered the number of wives he must have had and the number of children he produced. Thats my moan for the day. I dont want to hear about that program again. TED.

OK maybe WDYTYA isn't the best programme but it is so much better than most of the lame rubbish on TV at the moment. I feel kind of sorry for people who have their trees done for them, I have had such a buzz from doing mine, the last few monthes have been so exciting and i woud not have wanted to miss it. I like David Tennant and Robert Lindsey so will look forward to it, hope they do Sean Bean next Caroline

David is on?? I'll definitely be watching then :D (PS - McDonald is his real surname - he picked Tennant from Neil Tennant, because he liked the Pet Shop Boys - yes, I'm that sad lol)

Hi Robert Lindsey is also in the series. He was filming outside where I work the other week. This is in Ilkeston Derbyshire. His real name is Robert Stevenson. Looking forward to that as it had local interest to me. Like everyone else says we had better get our certs ordered now. What a good excuse to buy them now. Lin

Does anyone know who the other 11 are?

Equity in Scotland asked him to change his name because of a theatre actor in Glasgow called Richard David McDonald I think the Tennat is taken from his mother Helen - his father is called Sandy (most likely Alexander)

I wish they would do Simon Callow - I've got loads of Callows and have hit a brick wall!

His real name is McDonald but he had to use Tennant as there was already another actor called David McDonald.

All the more reason to order from the local RO's whenever possible. Glen

I don't care if it is being done at my expense. If it means I get to look at David Tennant for an extra hour on the TV, I am happy. Couldn't you just drown in those dark brown eyes! Tina (pretending not to be as old as she is)

Off to get my certificate orders in before the great rush. Heres hoping the TNT/GRO probems get sorted before the prog airs :)))) During the 1st WDYTYA I waited six weeks for a cert! Add that to the TNT/GRO problems does that mean certs MIGHT be here before Christmas?.....2007???? LOL Chris

Another back log at the GRO!!! Ann Glos

I reckon we could all dig up some much more interesting people to be researched, if ITV wanted to set up in competition. In WDYTYA, the actual ancestors are usually fairly humdrum, at the end of the day. jay

Another batch of well-paid 'celebs' getting their research done at our expense!!!! reg