I haven’t watched it yet , i do record evening programmes, my
Grandchildren work during the day so contact me in the
evenings.
Good Morning Sunday 12th July 2026
Charity Shops Making Donations Uncomfortable
The new season got off to a wonderful start with Josh Widdicombe. Has anyone on here been able to trace their ancestry back to royalty? Not that we need to aspire to that though. Family history can be full of surprises and a lot of interest.
I haven’t watched it yet , i do record evening programmes, my
Grandchildren work during the day so contact me in the
evenings.
In the case of something like WDYTYA, there are no real spoilers, surely?
If someone hasn't seen it and wants a surprise at the end, which won't always happen, they can easily stay away from the thread.
If the first post in a thread about a mystery drama, or even a soap with a Big Reveal, includes information that will spoil it, I think it is good manners to post a spoiler alert, as many people do use catch-up or streaming services, but in this case I don't see the need.
I was out of the house on Tuesday night, I watched the program on catch up on Wednesday afternoon, by which time your spoiler was out, although I managed to avoid it. DH doesn't enjoy this program so I watched it on my own.
I really don't need you to tell me I should be watching TV when you think I should.
Alegrias1
^Am I the only person to ever watch TV. when it is aired ?^
Quite possibly.
How sad. (And frankly , what a rude response)
The days of the family (or just a couple) watching something together seem to be past. When the girls were young there was often a James Bond on TV on Saturday nights and we all enjoyed our “film nights” , popcorn and all.
Am I the only person to ever watch TV. when it is aired ?
Quite possibly.
Grammaretto
Espee How can an already aired programme ever be a "Spoiler alert"?
There is a clue in the original post on this thread if anyone prefers not to read.
Thank you Grammaretto?
I felt my wrist had been well and truly smacked for having the temerity to post on a TV programme which had aired the previous day. 
Am I the only person to ever watch TV. when it is aired ?
Does rest of the world experience everything via video recorders or iPlayer? Those are certainly a convenience but you cannot expect a total “news blackout” on what has already been broadcast.
At the risk of incurring further wrath dare I point out that in the majority of Shakespeare’s plays - apart from the comedies- everybody dies ?
Grammaretto
Espee How can an already aired programme ever be a "Spoiler alert"?
There is a clue in the original post on this thread if anyone prefers not to read.
A spoiler alert shows that a poster is about to give information that might spoil a programme for someone who hasn’t seen it, eg a mention of who the murderer is, or that Elizabeth marries Mr Darcy at the end.
It usually does apply to shows that have already aired - how else would the poster have seen them?
Gosh, we like to rain on people's parades, don't we?
Whether a show has already aired or not, I think its good manners not to give away the details of the "plot". Anyone want to give away the identity of Keyser Soze, while we're at it?
Regarding the million ancestors thing. Apparently anyone with European ancestry is descended from Charlemagne, because the number of direct ancestors in your tree in 800AD is more than the whole number of people living in Europe at the time (or something like that). Of course we're not all descended from Charlemagne because there are doubles in your tree; look at the Queen and Prince Phillip, both descended from Queen Victoria, so their number of ancestors halves straight away.
The point of knowing who your ancestors are, IMO, is being able to picture what went on in your history, and make it a bit more realistic.
Throughly enjoyed the program. I like Josh W for his gentle humour. I was slightly flummoxed though by his apparent total lack of any historical knowledge.
I’ve found traces of one line in my family going back to the 1500s.
Callistemon
Someone had put a family tree in Ancestry which included my great-grandmother, showing a direct line to Henry VIII through his marriage to Anne Boleyn.
I thought it was a load of rubbish because their only child, Elizabeth, did not marry or have any children.
Now I'm beginning to wonder ..... ?
And one DD is a redhead ?
I'm more excited to think I might be related to Josh Widdecombe!
I don’t want to burst your bubble Callistemon but some people post absolute rubbish on Ancestry. Check it all out yourself to see if it’s right. It should be do-able. Have they given their sources? They obviously made a mistake in claiming descent from Anne Boleyn but who knows, perhaps you are descended from Henry via Mary B or another mistress, Ma’am?
You have over a million ancestors just 20 generations back. There's bound to be somebody interesting in there somewhere.
My Irish side goes back to Henry 1st but given changes in land holding, invasions and the fact that Henry 1st is said to be the monarch with the most illegitimate children, even if true, there's a lot of us about! 
Espee How can an already aired programme ever be a "Spoiler alert"?
There is a clue in the original post on this thread if anyone prefers not to read.
Haven’t watched it yet but looking forward to it.,, ancestors back to 1700 many from Windsor area, also towards Welsh Borders.I would love them to do my family history as I am stuck now.
Aveline
I was annoyed by the continued pronounciation of 'Lettice'. They kept saying 'Lettees'. I have a friend called Lettuce. It's always 'Lettiss' ( like the veg!). I checked online and found confirmation that it isn't 'Lettees' and referred to it as 'faux french'.
Like you and Anniebach I knew a “Lettice” pronounced Lettiss who took pride in it being an old English name.
It would be like talking about Clareess Cliffe pottery or even the politician Horrass Walpole - where on earth did they get that idea from?
Someone had put a family tree in Ancestry which included my great-grandmother, showing a direct line to Henry VIII through his marriage to Anne Boleyn.
I thought it was a load of rubbish because their only child, Elizabeth, did not marry or have any children.
Now I'm beginning to wonder ..... ?
And one DD is a redhead ?
I'm more excited to think I might be related to Josh Widdecombe!
MayBeMaw
It was an amazing “pedigree “:though wasn’t it!
Descended from Mary, sister of Anne Boleyn (quite possibly fathered by Henry VIII who was having a fling with her at the time) but going even further back to Edward I and even further to Philip III (?) of France. Not to mention the Earl of Holland , “groom of the stool” to Charles I
He’s got more blue blood in him than most of the Royal Family!
That post really should have had a spoiler alert MayBeMaw.
Lettice, when pronounced Lettees, is quite possibly 'faux French' - a bit like snobby Hyacinth Bucket and her insistence on 'Bouquet'. ?
I find Josh Widdicombe very likeable - I'm now determined to watch the series. My DH's own ancestors include Edward II of England and Isabella of France - and beyond. I think there's nothing more addictive than finding out about your 'roots'.
Aveline
I was annoyed by the continued pronounciation of 'Lettice'. They kept saying 'Lettees'. I have a friend called Lettuce. It's always 'Lettiss' ( like the veg!). I checked online and found confirmation that it isn't 'Lettees' and referred to it as 'faux french'.
Years ago I knew a very affected lady who pronounced her name ‘Lettees’.?
I liked Josh too and thought his looks remarkable like those Royal portraits!
You'd have thought there would have been a rumour in the family about the beheaded ancestor.
I wonder when they will introduce DNA testing onto WDYTYA. I had my DNA tested and found no English at all though I have ancestors from Norfolk and from Gloucestershire ..or do I?
I
If Henry VIII had 2 children (legitimate or illegitimate) which each had 2 children who each had... you get the idea, there are over 8m related to him.
On a different tack, with a smile on my face, I am remembering Danny Dyer's wife shouting 'I'm a princess!' at the end of his WDYTYA.
It's not a French name so no point in trying try pronounce it as they did.
Local pronunciation cannot be guessed and follows no rules- so who is to know what the correct way of saying it is.
Loved it. I too wondered if he was related to Richard Rich.
We have no grand names in my family as far as I know. A smuggler in Sussex was part of the Hooe gang; agricultural labourers in Suffolk descended from the List (Lyst) family and canal bargees related to the Rathbones - mechanical engineers; sheep rustlers deported to Australia. The maternal family is probably Saxon in origin. To own property you generally have to be of Norman descent.
I think Lettice is a lovely name. My friend is usually referred to as Letty though.
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.