Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think "Who do you think you are?" is a waste of money?

136 replies

moreslackthanslick · 02/12/2016 14:55

As a TV show?

Surely the only person interested in someone's family history would be that person and close relatives! Why this became a Tv Series is a bit beyond me, couldn't care less about Danny Dyer or Amanda Holden's forefathers!

AIBU?

OP posts:
ludog · 02/12/2016 14:57

I like it, I find genealogy very interesting.

OdinsLoveChild · 02/12/2016 15:00

I do think its a terrible expense to send minor celebrities off all over the world following their family roots. Surely if they want to know their family history they would research it themselves.
I did hear that they do loads of random celebrities and then only pick the ones with the best stories of poverty/crime/destitution etc That's how we ended up with random ones like Jerry Hall being included although her story was pretty crap from what I could remember.

PuppyMonkey · 02/12/2016 15:04

Sorry, YABVU - the one on Danny Dyer last week was one of the most joyful and uplifting hours of telly all year. There have also been loads of other good ones - Brian Blessed springs to mind. It's often more about general social history going back centuries, not just the one specific celebrity. And a lot of people are interested in history, so fair enough to make programme like this IMHO.

Eolian · 02/12/2016 15:12

I agree in that I'm not remotely interested, OP. But YABU nevertheless. If nobody watched it, they'd stop making the programme, obviously.

littlesallyracket · 02/12/2016 15:12

It must do well ratings-wise, because if it didn't they wouldn't keep recommissioning it and spending money on it.

I expect most people who like it are interested more in the history aspect than in the celebrities themselves. I quite like it because I find anything history-related endlessly fascinating.

I can totally see why you wouldn't find it interesting and/or wouldn't want to tune in, as it's not going to be everyone's thing, but if lots of other people like it and watch it, it's not a waste of money. Very much a case of each to their own, I think - there have been lots of big-budget BBC dramas I haven't watched or been interested in, but I'm more than happy for the Beeb to spend money on them if they're popular with other people.

Allthebestnamesareused · 02/12/2016 15:14

I don't usually watch it but the Gogglebox showing of Danny Dyer's was good enough to make me go and watch it (and cry!)

JosephineMaynard · 02/12/2016 15:14

Its not something I'm particularly interested in. But I'm guessing that plenty of viewers are interested though, as they keep on making them.

As long as it's part of a mix of different programmes, so they're providing different things for people with different interests, I don't see a problem with them continuing to make and air this sort of show.

fourcorneredcircle · 02/12/2016 15:16

I like them for the history/genealogy stuff. It's interesting to me. I like social history stuff.

Personally I think Eastenders is a colossal, over hyped waste of money. But I accept other people (millions of them) like them.

Original poster
moreslackthanslick · 02/12/2016 15:18

Ok, as I thought I am being U. I've never tuned in and yes I appreciate variety on the BBC but this just comes across as a bit narcissistic. Obviously it's well received to still be going.

Slaps self with wet fish.

OP posts:
DailyMailSucksAss · 02/12/2016 15:18

The danny dyer ep was some of the best tv I've seen in ages. Admittedly the others have been terrible so far.

mrscarrotironfoundersson · 02/12/2016 15:19

I remember Parky saying they tried to do his family for a program but
couldn't find anyone or anything of interest in 200 years of family history. They were all miners and farmers in Barnsley...

mintthins · 02/12/2016 15:21

There haven't been many of the celebrities I have been desperately interested in themselves, but do love the social history aspect of it. I have learnt lots from it.

SaagMasala · 02/12/2016 15:22

I watch it because I have an interest in genealogy, but its also a good way to get a small peek into social history. How many people know about the Lancastria?

The very early series were good because they often gave you hints & tips about how to research. Now, I think they assume we all know how to go about it - where to go for certain types of records - and don't mention the dead ends and false trails.

There are many, many times when I want to scream at the TV because of something that is said, and I can't abide all this jet-setting all over the place just to look at a few photocopied documents.

I liked Danny Dyer's story though I can't abide the man.

I also enjoyed Amanda Holden, though was secretly hoping they would give away enough info for me to work out if she is related to someone I know.

SaagMasala · 02/12/2016 15:26

Many of us have got ancestors with interesting pasts, but we'll never get featured cos we ain't famous. A family history group I'm in has got several volunteers to take part if they ever decide to "do" someone ordinary.

GrumpyDullard · 02/12/2016 15:31

If it was down to me, the only programmes allowed on telly would be David Attenborough documentaries, Doctor Who, The Sewing Bee and Who Do You Think You Are.

Oh, and Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.

And Have I Got News For You (although I'm sure it used to be funnier...)

And films, of course, but only good ones. And the only sports allowed should be cricket, snooker and darts.

Glad that's cleared up.

NKFell · 02/12/2016 15:32

I also love it so...

YABVVVVU Grin

WatchingFromTheWings · 02/12/2016 15:36

I love it. I watch it as I have an interest in genealogy, rather than the stars. The Brian Blessed one stuck out more for me than any of the others.

Canklesofglitter · 02/12/2016 15:38

I'd happily sacrifice the entire output of ITV and all sport before giving up WDYTYA. I'd happily give up all TV if I could save radio 4. I watch about 4 hours of tv a week and still often struggle to find things to record / watch.

I often wonder what quality TV we'd get if we didn't pay so much for football.

EverySongbirdSays · 02/12/2016 15:41

As many have said the Danny Dyer one was brilliant.

I've watched nearly them all and other ones which were interesting/cringe/brilliant/hilarious for different reasons :

Matthew Pinsent
Jeremy Irons
Patsy Kensit
Ainsley Harriot
Boris Johnson
Kim Cattrall
Alex Kingston
Brian Blessed
David Baddiel

Kim Cattrall's basically focused on one grandfather who had gone missing, and as it turned out was a bigamist

Esther Rantzens was awful in a Dear God, isn't she hideous way. And therefore riveting.

YABVU OP - try watching it, maybe?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/12/2016 15:42

YABU.

I can be better some weeks than others, but I love it.

EverySongbirdSays · 02/12/2016 15:43

I've also seen a few of the American ones.

Sarah Jessica Parker's one - BRILLIANT

Jim Parsons one - BRILLIANT

TrashPanda · 02/12/2016 15:47

I love WDYTYA. I've watched almost every episode I think. The only one I couldn't watch was Anne Reid, I found her so incredibly rude and it made me angry. The Danny Dyer one was funny and some are very sad. It's not the celebs but the history and stories of people from the past I find fascinating. It's definitely the social history I enjoy learning about.

liquidrevolution · 02/12/2016 15:49

I enjoy it. Several others have been related to kings but cant remember who. The stories are interesting but then i am an historian and avoid things like gogglebox and MIC as that kind of entertainment doea not interest me.

I watched a repeat of minnie driver episode this week. She was lovely.

I doubt the celebs get paid that much and i imagine its actually its quite cheap to make as out of a series only 1 or 2 episodes will include international travel.

Batteriesallgone · 02/12/2016 15:50

Ordinary people history can be difficult. When do you pick to research? Who? How ordinary is ordinary anyway?

Picking one person and tracing their genealogy allows for a bit of ordinary people social history whilst also keeping the human interest essential to keeping your attention.

I do think it would be better if they used a random number generator and a yellow pages to pick people Smile but most of us don't have agents, camera experience, ability to take a couple of weeks off to make the program etc. So it's done with celebrities to make it logistically easier/possible.

CryingShame · 02/12/2016 15:53

Some of the stories they uncover are touching, and show life as it would have been forr other people's families as well - if you haven't seen it, Jemermy Paxman's programme covered slum housing for the destitute poor in Glasgow and the role of the Salvation Army in supporting an ancestor who had nothing as the local bigwigs refused funding to her because she'd had a child out of wedlock.

Some of the programmes cover enough social history, and common history, to be really interesting. DH found the same with Barbara Windsor's programme as his family comes from the same areas of Sussex shown on the programme.