Ruth Jones

I have just watched it and it was very refreshing - just a normal nice non-actressy person enjoying finding out about her family.

I really enjoyed the program last night. I liked the photograph of the siblings!

I remember Michael Parkinson telling a story that he had been asked if he would take part. He said yes, they did some preliminary research on his family then came back and withdrew the offer because their stories were quite dull!

I'd love to go further back with mine because HenryVIII's court jester was an ancestor of mine----Will Sommers.

It was an uncle of mine who'd delved back that far when I'd had little interest at the time unfortunately. Somewhere " among my souvenirs " I have that letter.

I suspect that the programme makers must do a quick check into potential subjects pasts to see if they are worth investigating. So many people must have pretty straightforward genealogies of interest only to their direct family members.

The fact that there are dark parts of a place's history does not have to make one not be proud of ones ancestry or feel totally connected to a place.

I am proud of Welsh history, proud of my welsh ancestry .

I enjoy Who Do you Think You are. One of the better shows featuring celebrities. But it would likely be just as interesting 'history' if they researched any one of us!

sparklingsilver28 are you referring to the recent focus on acknowledging the part of British history that was less than Great e,g, plundering others' wealth /resources, the wealth built on slavery? It is part of British history and it is not the job of a historian to celebrate and praise the past but to present it honestly. Few countries will have a history without periods they would rather had been done differently. Facts are facts and not all are comfortable.

"Gavin and Stacey" not a programme I spend time watching and thought to turn off. So very pleased I didn't. Ruth Jones and family pride in their Welsh heritage such a refreshing pleasure in the all too disparaging of British history and heritage usually thrown at us.

I like Ruth jones but i dont think she a very good novelist! A finger in too many pies i think..

Love this programme. I agree with everything that's been said about Ruth. One of the best episodes

I don’t watch it now as it all seemed a bit samey, but I agree with Jane10 about the Bruce Forsyth one.
I thought it would be all about him, but he seemed surprisingly modest and humbled by what he found out. I thought it was lovely how he paid for some ancestor to have a proper headstone or similar after being buried in a pauper’s grave after losing his money.
(Hope I’ve remembered the details correctly).

I do wish they'd go further back in time.

Callistemon I did see that bit but it was just her looking at letters and talking.
The most interesting 'Who Do You Think you Are' for me was Bruce Forsyth. I was surprised at his level of concern at finding out a precursor's evil deeds. I hadn't thought that such a 'showbiz' type would be bothered. I also enjoyed Mary Berry's.

I enjoyed it too.

I didn’t know she was born in Porthcawl, explains why she chose Barry for Gavin and Stacey . !

It is said writers and comedians are always on the look out for ideas for new material so yes, jaylucy, I agree, Ruth could very well write a story around what she found out.

Have to agree with all you've said, she came across as a very warm and down to earth person. Her obvious pride in what she found out about her family and heritage shone through. One of the best Who do you think you are for a while. It also helps that I am researching my family tree, so watch it also to pick up hints and tips.

I must say i enjoyed it too.
I wonder if it was just me, or could anyone else see a story for a possible series about the grandfather that was turned down for a job in the NHS forming in her head ?

As ever I only half watched it but what I did see made me want to watch it properly. She came across as someone so warm and lovely.

I found it more interesting than usual.

Jane10 if you had stuck with it, the second half may have interested you more because her maternal grandfather was the Secretary in the Welsh Medical Aid Society movement, a precursor of the NHS and the story covered the beginnings of the NHS.
I'll say no more about it as some posters have yet to watch it.

Oh dear. Looks like I'm alone in having this edition pretty boring to the extent that I switched off half way through. She seemed like a nice person which is fine but somehow this one just didn't 'hold' me.
All families have deep roots of course. Some, like mine, were pretty boring really. Same names and occupations throughout the generations then- bang- early 20th century and they were off to all parts of the world.

This was a really good programme. Ruth Jones came across as a lovely person who has not been affected by her fame. A really interesting family story too.

Yes, it was a very interesting program. It's amazing how quickly history is lost, even in a family that has deep roots.

Yes, I watched it and agree that she came across as lovely without any airs about her.

I enjoyed it very much, and seeing my beloved New Quay was
a joy. Ruth is a lovely warm person