Frances de la Tour's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? was due to air last night, but was postponed in favour of The Apprentice. It's now scheduled to air next Thursday (22 Oct) at 9pm. You can check here for any further changes of schedule.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to find it a little odd that the BBC would take a break before the last episode of a series, but there you have it.
Friday, 16 October 2015
Friday, 9 October 2015
WDYTYA? - Mark Gatiss
Last night's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? featured the brilliant Mark Gatiss - actor and writer on shows such as Doctor Who and Sherlock. I'm going to be honest, if a TV show was just an hour a week of Mark Gatiss' random comments on life, I would watch it.
The episode itself focussed on Mark's intriguing and very historical Irish roots - with Mark from the outset wanting to be declared King of Ireland. The Irish history and the stories unravelled in the atmospheric countryside of Ireland were certainly worth the watch.
I found the link to Irish folk-lore especially interesting, but that may be because I have a general interest in all types of folk-lore (with a special interest in the Welsh.) But, of course, the vampire tale was just fabulous, and Mark was clearly delighted with the find.
Next week's episode is the last in the current series of Who Do You Think You Are? and stars British actress Frances de la Tour.
Friday, 2 October 2015
WDYTYA? - Anita Rani
Anita Rani - One Show presenter, and weekend twinkle-toes on this season of Strictly Come Dancing - explored her family's history in last night's episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
Anita's family are of Sikh and Hindu Indian heritage - and so it was off to India to discover her grandfather's troubled history. What was revealed was easily one of the most tragic and heart-breaking stories featured in Who Do You Think You Are? It was a story of conflict, violence, the partition of India and Pakistan, and the atrocities that take place when prejudice blinds men to the rights-and-wrongs of this world.
More than anything, this was a story of violence against women - something which this part of the world (and, many would argue, the rest of the world too,) still struggles with to this day. Only one or two generations ago, the women in this region of India were killed, or forced to kill themselves, to stop them from falling into the hands of the men of the opposite faction. Ethnic and religious differences led to the horrendous deaths of innumerable women and girls, many of whom were killed at the hands of those who were supposed to protect them. Perhaps, difficult though it may be, we should bring these things, these bloody and forgotten histories, to light more often - as a lesson to all.
Anita's family are of Sikh and Hindu Indian heritage - and so it was off to India to discover her grandfather's troubled history. What was revealed was easily one of the most tragic and heart-breaking stories featured in Who Do You Think You Are? It was a story of conflict, violence, the partition of India and Pakistan, and the atrocities that take place when prejudice blinds men to the rights-and-wrongs of this world.
More than anything, this was a story of violence against women - something which this part of the world (and, many would argue, the rest of the world too,) still struggles with to this day. Only one or two generations ago, the women in this region of India were killed, or forced to kill themselves, to stop them from falling into the hands of the men of the opposite faction. Ethnic and religious differences led to the horrendous deaths of innumerable women and girls, many of whom were killed at the hands of those who were supposed to protect them. Perhaps, difficult though it may be, we should bring these things, these bloody and forgotten histories, to light more often - as a lesson to all.
Thursday, 1 October 2015
What's in a Name? - A Complaint From 1894
Think names like Apple are a new trend? Think again.
The Aberdare Times 9th June 1894
The Aberdare Times 9th June 1894
STRANGE NAMES.
In a recently published volume on "Church Folk-
Lore," the Rev J E Vaux shows that many stupid
parents are still allowed to make life a burden to
their offspring by afflicting on them absurd, un-
meaning names. For example, if "Christmas Caroll"
- a perfectly competent citizen - were to sign a peti-
tion on any subject, the worthies at the House of
Commons might reject it as unreliable. They would
certainly shy at "Mineral Waters," "Wild Rose,"
"Ether Spray," "Boadicea Basher," "Liberal
Heneage Brown," "Orange Lemmon," "Jubilee
Gosling," and "Only Fancy William Brown." Yet
these are all personages recently added to baptismal
registers, and quite as much entitles to figure on
petitions as anybody else.
Friday, 25 September 2015
WDYTYA? - Frank Gardner
In an exceptionally interesting episode, last night's Who Do You Think You Are? featured BBC journalist Frank Gardner's prestigious ancestors.
Of historical interest in so many ways, the episode darted around the various intrigues of Frank's family in the hopes of highlighting some of the array of family stories hiding in his tree branches. As a result, what we have is a glimpse into the life and tragedy of an eminent Victorian scientist and biologist (all very period drama,) and the ups and downs of political life for the erstwhile Michael Stanhope (all very 'Wolf Hall.')
The episode also highlights the historical position of the 'groom of the stool' - the King of England, oddly enough, used to have a man who literally... cleaned him up... after he used the privy. It was actually a highly sought-after position - not least because of the trust and access to the King that it provided.
An interesting episode, which once again proves that it pays to have posh ancestors - there'll be a lot more recorded about them if you do!
Of historical interest in so many ways, the episode darted around the various intrigues of Frank's family in the hopes of highlighting some of the array of family stories hiding in his tree branches. As a result, what we have is a glimpse into the life and tragedy of an eminent Victorian scientist and biologist (all very period drama,) and the ups and downs of political life for the erstwhile Michael Stanhope (all very 'Wolf Hall.')
The episode also highlights the historical position of the 'groom of the stool' - the King of England, oddly enough, used to have a man who literally... cleaned him up... after he used the privy. It was actually a highly sought-after position - not least because of the trust and access to the King that it provided.
An interesting episode, which once again proves that it pays to have posh ancestors - there'll be a lot more recorded about them if you do!
Friday, 18 September 2015
WDYTYA? - Anne Reid
Last night's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? was the turn of Anne Reid, an actress best known for Coronation Street and Last Tango in Halifax. Anne's history was mired in the beautiful Scots landscape - which created a stunning backdrop to the episode.
The episode mainly focused on the tale of John Reid - a village teacher who was dismissed on account of various actions related to his alcoholism. Anne really seemed to feel a connection with John, despite his bad behaviour, as he seemed to have more spark than the other inhabitants of the small Scottish village in which he lived.
The episode also featured a look at the British penal colony in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in Australia. The look at the life of convicts in Australia was interesting and informative - though I can't say that I agree with Anne's apparent view that any one convict is more deserving of a more comfortable job than another.
The episode mainly focused on the tale of John Reid - a village teacher who was dismissed on account of various actions related to his alcoholism. Anne really seemed to feel a connection with John, despite his bad behaviour, as he seemed to have more spark than the other inhabitants of the small Scottish village in which he lived.
The episode also featured a look at the British penal colony in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in Australia. The look at the life of convicts in Australia was interesting and informative - though I can't say that I agree with Anne's apparent view that any one convict is more deserving of a more comfortable job than another.
Friday, 11 September 2015
WDYTYA? - Gareth Malone
Last night's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? was focused on Gareth Malone (presenter of The Choir, etc.,) and his theatrical ancestors.
What I personally like was the way the episode managed to skirt around the less reputable aspects of, in particular, the music hall in Liverpool. Victorian music halls were quite scandalous, and the promise of private boxes available for 'Captains and Gentlemen' was perhaps less respectable than Gareth Malone seemed to think.
What was truly remarkable though, was that Gareth was able to track down a voice recording and a piece of film of his 2x great-grandfather, who was a comic actor. People are rarely so lucky!
The music hall in Dublin did make my brain go to some truly awful puns about Dublin and Malone - involving a certain traditional song in which a girl sells shellfish. But, the less said about that, the better!
What was truly remarkable though, was that Gareth was able to track down a voice recording and a piece of film of his 2x great-grandfather, who was a comic actor. People are rarely so lucky!
The music hall in Dublin did make my brain go to some truly awful puns about Dublin and Malone - involving a certain traditional song in which a girl sells shellfish. But, the less said about that, the better!
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