Josh Widdicombe's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? started the series off with a bang - a story of riches and royalty and scandal.
The producers clearly had a lot to pack into this episode - starting with a banking dynasty, and ending with Hollywood-worthy tales of royalty. In fact, many aspects of Josh's family's tale have been turned into Hollywood films - The Other Boleyn Girl springs to mind.
In all that, though, some things were lost which, though unpleasant, are as much a part of Josh's family story as any of the more glamourous aspects.
In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, some of the goods traded in by the Baring brothers - who founded Barings bank - were listed as coffee, sugar, etc.
This rang a not-so-comfortable bell to me, given the time period in which the Baring brothers were operating.
A quick and cursory search of University College London's excellent British Slavery database shows what I suspected - members of the Baring family were significant beneficiaries of the massive compensation scheme that paid slave-owners for the 'inconvenience' of losing their slaves after the abolition.
I realise that there was a lot to pack in to a relatively short episode - in fact, the show-runners could probably do several series just on Josh Widdicombe's family and not run out of material.
But, given that we were being told how successful and respected the Baring family were, a simple sentence of acknowledgement of their part in the slave trade would not have gone amiss.
I can't believe that any researchers on the flagship genealogy TV programme in the UK would have missed recognising the slavery connection entirely, which means that the decision was made at some point - maybe even in post-production - to focus elsewhere.
Still, despite that notable omission, this was an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable episode - not least because of Josh Widdicombe's reactions.
There was plenty of ammo for a comedian to react to - from the little-known occupation of groom of the stool (a much sought-after job of... accompanying the King to the toilet,) to the scandals of the Tudor court.
And it was fascinating - much of Josh's family history personalises pivotal moments of British history: the Civil War, the reign of Elizabeth I, the tumultuous court of Henry VIII.
It was certainly well worth the watch! Hopefully the rest of this series will prove just as absorbing.
A reminder that the very last date to get in touch for Christmas orders from Family History By Cerys is 1st November 2021. More details here.
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