A packed Dalmuir Library listened to an enthralling talk given by Alex Graham, the executive producer of the much lauded TV series, Who Do You Think You Are? Alex gave the audience fascinating insights into the workings of the programme and its underlying purpose. The talk was accompanied by extensive use of video clips from the programme.

Alex said that everyone involved in the production of the series has been immensely surprised at just how popular it has become. The fifth series will be broadcast around the beginning of July and they are already working on series 6. Versions of the show will be shown all around the world in countries as diverse as the USA and China. The latest series will feature, amongst others, Boris Johnson, Esther Rantzen, and Jerry Springer. Alex explained the rationale of using celebrities; they will encourage an audience to engage with a subject that otherwise may attract little interest. Alex wanted to do a programme that explored social history and genealogy but they had to come up with a hook that would attract public interest and from the success of the series they have clearly arrived at the correct formula.

Clips of Patsy Kensit, Amanda Redman and Stephen Fry were used to illustrate the powerful emotional impact that family history research can have. Intimate, painful and tragic life stories can be disclosed through genealogical research. Alex told the audience about the process of making the programme – the production team are aware of the results of the research but the celebrity genuinely doesn’t know what they are going to be confronted with, so the responses are entirely spontaneous. June Whitfield, the queen of British sit-coms, had to be turned down because she had already spent ten years conducting her own family research. There would have been journey of discovery for her, so reluctantly she could not be used as a subject for the programme. WDYTYA aims to take the celebrity on a journey of discovery into the past, and unlike most programmes it is filmed in sequence.

Alex addressed the accusation that WDYTYA is part of the ‘dumbing down’ of TV. He argued that it has extended the reach of history well beyond the perennial themes covered ordinarily, and it has covered what have otherwise been hidden topics, such as the Armenian genocide, and the diamond trade. He also felt that it is only by personalising history that we can often begin to grasp its true nature and significance. Alex fielded many questions from the audience and he chatted extensively with those who had additional questions as we enjoyed refreshments. Everyone felt that the evening had been very interesting and entertaining.