Who do you think you are

Found the programme really interesting tonight. He is the last person you would be expected to be descended from royalty. Was thinking I would really like to engage the services of the genealogist who traced his family way back to the Cromwells. Not that I have any delusions about being related to anyone either famous or royal but just to be able to trace my family back beyond the 1780s.

I'm looking forward to it on catch up... Danny Dyer has been in Eastenders for a long time.

There have been some fantastic revelations in these series of programmes, each one of which usually kicks of with something (almost) unbelievable. The researchers must go through a lot of mundane stuff before finding gold, as they did tonight. I have enjoyed so many of these programmes and learned a lot about genealogy but haven't discovered such excitement in my own family, other than that my father's birth was registered in two different areas

This episode was certainly almost unbelievable and enhanced by Danny Dyer's Cockney persona which veered between hilarious and endearing as more revalations came to light. WDYTYA is only as interesting as the subject matter, sometimes it can be a bit dull, but tonight's was definitely quite extraordinary. I like the fact that this episode was riches to rags, less predictable.

I think this was the best episode I've seen. No wonder they chose it as the series opener. I'd be much more excited at being descended from Cromwell than from royalty, but in this case he got both. He seemed a likeable bloke as well, who was genuinely chuffed by his family tree.

Danny still sounds like a real Eastend boy good for him.
I enjoyed the episode too.

Should have said like the Eastend boy that he is

Yes I enjoyed this episode too. He seemed like real Cockney
lad and as he himself said he could have went down the path of criminality. A likeable guy and never expected to be descended from royalty. I hope the next episodes are as good

Not forgetting the workhouse. From royalty to the workhouse in a few hundred years.

I enjoyed the programme too but wonder if Danny Dyer isn't a little too OTT cockney? It was almost as though he was playing the part of an East End wide boy.

Jane, I think he tries hard to be a right cockney geezer. I loved the programme.

I had never heard of Danny Dyer, but it was still really fascinating.

I am amazed that all the T.V "stars" have someone famous orgrand in their family, they are never from a family of bakers, butchers or candlestick makers

Wasn't one of Mary Berry's ancestors a baker from Suffolk/Norfolk grannypiper? They do have to make it interesting too. Paul Hollywood's ancestor was a postman who literally ran for miles through the Highlands to deliver post. Not Royal but fascinating nevertheless.

I suspect that most of us could be distantly related to famous people. Most of us who investigate our linage don't wander off sideways along the maternal lines.

Danny Dyer's reactions to all the information were wonderful. I liked his wife's comment at the end! I believe that they researched Michael Parkinson's family tree for the programme, but couldn't find anything interesting in his ancestors. They were all mill workers or farmers, so it didn't reach production.

I watched it with DD. I hadn't a clue who he was but it was a really enjoyable programme. DD who is 'theatrical' did remark that he was rather over egging the cockney bit and was 'in character' throughout!

That made me smile Marmight as I think he plays himself on Eastenders - I love his character though.

I watch a lot of those programmes and love many of them, but I found him difficult to understand at times. I thought his reaction to the workhouse archives and the criminal record of the baby's death very moving.

I didn't watch this, because I vaguely knew he was in a soap, it didn't appeal. Will now catch up, sounds like a good one.

D and I were discussing his accent and she found a YouTube clip of him being interviewed by Jonathan Ross. He sounded just as he did last night. I think he was genuine last night. Hope has relatives that sound just the same

H not hope

Danny Dyer might be an actor but he only ever plays himself. In films he is the cockney hard guy, in Eastenders he is the lovable Cockney landlord. Some of the phrases he uses are not even real East end but are Dyerisms. Even his walk is exaggerated. Last night's WDYTYA was very interesting and entertaining though.

I think some statistician has demonstrated that we are ALL descended from Edward III. It's seeing it demonstrated that makes it fascinating.