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Preparations continue for Who Do You Think You Are? Live 2014

As the main family history fair in the world gets ever closer, the organisers have been issuing regular updates and promotions to entice people along for the 2014 event. With  the first of the celebrities -John Simpson now confirmed, it promises to be another good event. With the usual main exhibitors, excellent speakers and family history societies sure to be present and the Imperial War Museum launching their new First World War initiative at the show, there's many reasons for those both new to family history and the more experienced family historians to attend. Don't forget the show runs from Thursday to Saturday this year with no Sunday opening: Thurs 20th February  09.30 -17.30 Friday 21st February  09.30 - 17.30 Saturday 22nd February 09.30- 17.30 To whet your appetite, this is their latest video promoting the show: http://youtu.be/sUeWyTrdM-0
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Who Do You Think You Are? series 10 reaches its conclusion with a wild west theme!

The final episode of the Who Do You Think You Are? series concluded last night and it was a good episode full of dramatic events and surprises. Although focusing on just a few members of John Simpson's family, it highlighted the surprises and difficulties in family history research. The programme helped John Simpson discover more about  his great grandmother leaving her husband to run off with American wildwest showman and aviation pioneer, Samuel Cody and the fabrication of details they used to disguise the fact they weren't legally married. The 1911 census document illustrated in great detail that our ancestors did not always tell the truth! The episode had its fair share of tragedies including the death of Cody and the poisoning of his great great grandfather and also highlighted the often complicated nature of family life. As the finale of the series, it certainly had its share of twists and turns. What did you think of the programme?  

John Simpson Who Do You think You Are?

John Simpson's episode on Who Do You Think You Are? was full of drama with a family history that often made the newspapers!

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John Simpson sorts fact from fiction in the final episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

This Wednesday sees the final episode of series 10 of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' on BBC1. It's the turn of BBC Foreign Affairs Editor, John Simpson or John Cody Fidler-Simpson to give him his full name. Born in Lancashire in 1944, John has spent all his working career at the BBC. The final episode of the Who Do You Think You Are? series  is usually the one with the most twist and turns and surprises and this one promises to be no exception. John discovers a poisoning in the 1800s and also investigates the truth behind his supposed family link to the pioneering aviator and wild west showman, Samuel Cody. There's also the family rift he experiences as a small child that damaged his relationship with his mother. The episode looks to feature as much drama in his own family history as there is on one of his usual BBC news reports! TheGenealogist has an article on John Simpson looking at his eventful family history. It can be found at http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/wdytya2013_simpson.php The John Simpson programme airs on BBC1 this Wednesday  25th September at 9pm.

John Simpson in Who Do You Think You Are?

John Simpson in the final episode of the series of Who Do You Think You Are?

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A fascinating glimpse into the family history of Marianne Faithfull

Looking at other forums and blogs there has been a mixed reaction to the format used by Who Do You Think You Are? of just concentrating  on a few members of the family of a celebrity. However, last night's programme, despite the lack of parish records and the 'ready made' family trees given straight to the celebrity, was still very interesting- simply due to the fact on Marianne Faithfull's maternal Austro-Hungarian side they lived in a time of firstly, artistic freedom and decadence, then political upheavals and then the Nazi persecution of Jews and Russian reprisals. The story was one of drama and often danger, but one filled with determination and human resilience to survive. It added another dimension to many peoples' views of Marianne Faithfull and maybe explains the problems she has faced in her life. What did you think of last night's show?

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull as a young girl

 
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A family history just as eventful as her own life- 'Who Do You Think You Are? continues with Mariann

The penultimate episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are? features iconic 60s singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull.

Marianne Faithfull

60s iconic star Marianne Faithfull

The programme looks to be concentrating on her maternal side who were of Austro-Hungarian aristocratic descent. The 'von Sacher-Masoch' family contained a number of writers and literary experts and Marianne's grandfather was also a war hero for Germany in the First World War. This partly kept them from Nazi persecution as they  had some Jewish forebears in the family but their existence in Vienna in the 1940s was precarious as they quietly opposed the regime, distributing anti-Nazi leaflets. It promises to be another interesting episode and is on BBC1 tonight at 9pm. If you'd like a preview, there's an interesting article on TheGenealogist at http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/wdytya2013_faithfull.php

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull as a young girl

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A dramatic and emotional episode with Sarah Millican

Last night's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? was full of twists and turns as Sarah Millican's ancestors experienced hazards and dangers from off the coast of Kent to the Hudson Bay in Canada before settling down in South Shields in the North East. Sarah experienced a taste of the life her ancestors went through, wearing snow boots in Canada to trying on a diver's suit similar to the one her 3x Great Grandfather James Hoult used in his working life. It was an eventful and emotional episode, particularly the near death experience and gruesome injuries of her ancestor, John Malcolm. What did you think? If you missed it, the programme is available on the BBC iPlayer.

Sarah Millican on Who Do You Think You Are?

Sarah Millican's episode on Who Do You Think You Are? took her on a wide journey far from South Shields

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From Canada to the North Sea- Sarah Millican on Who Do You Think You Are?

Tonight at 9pm sees the next episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1. Comedienne and writer, Sarah Millican features in a tale that stretches far beyond her established South Shields immediate family. The 38-year-old, who is currently preparing for a 138-date UK tour, doesn’t have to wait long for her ticket out of South Tyneside – heading from her parents’ house in South Shields to Whitstable in Kent to find out about her maternal, three-times great-grandfather, James Hoult. He was one of the very first divers in the 1800s and his dangerous profession took him down to inspect a number of shipwrecks in the North Sea. Sarah also travels to Canada where she finds her four-times great-grandfather, John Malcolm, worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company, the oldest commercial corporation in North America . As part of his very tough job, he was sent to a remote outpost involved in the fur trade. It promises to be another great episode. If you'd like a taster before the show, TheGenealogist has looked into the background family history on Sarah Millican at http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/wdytya2013_millican.php

Sarah Millican

Sarah Millican and her family tree on Who Do You Think You Are?

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Nitin Ganatra on 'Who Do You Think You Are?'

Last night's episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' featuring Nitin Ganatra was a real international trip crossing continents.  Nitin's family history journey involved visiting both Kenya and India as he explored the lives of his ancestors. It was an emotional journey as the tale showed the hard lives of his forebears as they worked on the Kenyan Railway and also battled to escape famine and ill-health in India at the turn of the century. To travel back and speak to a village elder aged over 100 years old who remembered the Ganatra family did make the episode particularly fascinating. The poor record keeping in India over the years did make this programme more about what can be discovered through different channels of research, including speaking to elders, rather than the standard record sources we normally see used by the celebrities. All told it was a very unusual but still fascinating episode. Comedienne Sarah Millican is the celebrity featured next week!

Nitin Ganatra on BBC Who Do You Think You Are?

A fascinating and emotional journey with Nitin Ganatra on Who Do You Think You Are?

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Another interesting episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

Last night's episode featuring Gary Lineker focused on just 2 main characters- Thomas Billingham and James Pratt and their paths through life which went in very different directions. Whilst Tom received a 'lucky break' from his gardener father's wealthy employer, who paid for his education, James Pratt struggled throughout his life with no real change in his luck. With a big family to feed and employment very difficult to find, James had to turn to poaching to put food on the table. The programme really highlighted the struggles of life in Victorian England and also the opportunities (particularly in London) that could open up if you had that bit of help! What did you think of the programme?

Gary Lineker, Who Do You Think You Are?

Another good episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

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Gary Lineker featured next on Who Do You Think You Are?

The current series of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' on BBC1 has been a fascinating one so far. For those family historians interested in their sport, tonight's celebrity is former England footballer and now popular TV presenter, Gary Lineker. A Leicester boy, born and bred, the majority of his roots are from that area. Gary knows very little about his family history apparently, so it's a major voyage of discovery for him. The previews to the programme feature on two of Gary's distant ancestors who had very different lives. Both came from poor backgrounds but a lucky break happened to one to get him into a respectable profession but definitely didn't happen to the other ancestor! It promises to be another great programme looking at the family of one of England's most famous recent iconic heroes. Will you be watching? TheGenealogist.co.uk has looked into Gary's family history. If you'd like to know more in advance of the programme visit http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/wdytya2013_lineker.php

Gary Lineker family history

Gary Lineker featuring on tonight's Who Do You Think You Are?

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