Who do you think you are?

Yes quite right Doodledog

Doesn’t she say in the programme that ‘GC’ is a construct and not Gemma Collins? She has definitely said this before. She is bright enough to know that reality stars don’t have long to shine, so have to create a persona, which is what she did. The loud, brash ‘Essex girl’ ‘GC’ is that persona, not the real Gemma Collins.

Ps I find all the programmes interesting because I've been researching both sides of our family for years. It's amazing what you find out that you never knew, some things your parents refused to talk about too.

Yoginimeisje

I felt it harsh the posters saying rotten things about GC. She is actually a very nice considerate person, loves her mum to bits. Was so warm to her cousins, she met for the first time and immediately invited them out for a meal the follow weekend. She loves animals. I too was impressed by her not wearing make-up and having her hair in a causal pony tail. Her on screen persona is not the real GC. If you watch the programme you would change your mind about her.

Very few people you see on-screen are showing their true selves.

We watched half, but DH wanted to watch something else so I'll watch the rest another time.

Yoginimeisje

I felt it harsh the posters saying rotten things about GC. She is actually a very nice considerate person, loves her mum to bits. Was so warm to her cousins, she met for the first time and immediately invited them out for a meal the follow weekend. She loves animals. I too was impressed by her not wearing make-up and having her hair in a causal pony tail. Her on screen persona is not the real GC. If you watch the programme you would change your mind about her.

I have seen her on a number of shows and she has always acted like an entitled, spoilt brat. Just because she acts nicely on one show doesn't change her previous behaviours. I suspect she is actually quite a complex, emotional person and her bad behaviour was probably partly due to that but it does make it quite hard to see her in a positive light. Everybody is entitled to their own view of her based on their history of viewing.

I felt it harsh the posters saying rotten things about GC. She is actually a very nice considerate person, loves her mum to bits. Was so warm to her cousins, she met for the first time and immediately invited them out for a meal the follow weekend. She loves animals. I too was impressed by her not wearing make-up and having her hair in a causal pony tail. Her on screen persona is not the real GC. If you watch the programme you would change your mind about her.

Watched it, it was very good, she came across well, sad in parts, worth a watch.

GC not really on my radar but it would seem she's fairly astute in her business dealings. She recognized early on that she only had a very short life as a celebrity and has made her mark in the plus size clothing market as well as in other areas. She's a firm supporter of animal charities including PETA. Believe it or not she has actually won a debate at the Oxford Union! I don't think she's altogether a poor role model.

I knew nothing about Gemma Collins before I watched WDYTYA but I was interested to see how very clearly she explained the distinction between her celebrity “ diva” persona (“GC” which provides her with a very comfortable income ) and her real self “ Gemma” who loves her family, her garden and nature.

I enjoyed the programme about Gemma's family.

She does actually keep chickens I believe 🐔🐔🐔

😂😂😂

And she is far from stupid!!

Ilovedogs22

Doodledog

That's hardly the point though. The programme is about the ancestors, not the celebrities. Also, much depends on what the researchers can find out. The most fascinating person could have a relatively tame history, and someone boring could come from a line of interesting people.

I sort of understand your point but it is the fact that Gemma Collins & her ilk even fall into the hallowed category of celebrity🤔
Two things come to mind.
1. Stop making stupid people famous.
2. Why is modern life so mediocre. 🤔

She came across as very bright and engaging. She was interested in the places she visited, got on well with all the “experts” and asked relevant questions.

The thing is nowadays many girls plaster themselves in makeup, false eyelashes and trout pouts. Personally I think they look daft but we are all older ladies and not used to big, black eyebrows etc. I’ve seen graduation photos of girls looking like this, many nurses and teachers now favour this “look”.

We recently met with a young solicitor who looked like this and was wearing a very mini skirt, a low cut top and Doc Martin boots. However, she really knew her stuff and spoke beautifully.

It just goes to show you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. GC, for me, was a really interesting person.

Farmor15

I think the programme about Gemma Collins worked best if, like me, you had never heard of her before. When it started, and she was introduced, I nearly switched off, as I was immediately prejudiced by her overly "made up" appearance. However, I quickly got drawn into the story and also noticed in some parts, she was wearing little or no make up and looked quite ordinary. It impressed me that she was willing to appear on-screen without make up!

The main thing was that the story was fascinating - even if she had just been a random person - not any kind of "celebrity".

Just how I feel. 👏👏

I had never heard of Gemma Colins before the programme started. I was put off at first by her manners etc. but as things went on I was really interested and impressed in her understanding. I feel that I have a group of prejudices about celebrities that I should review.

Gemma Collins came across well. She was keen to help her mum, did not overact at “revelations” and was very natural. I think perhaps much of what has gone before was whipped up by the media. Gemma certainly presented as warmer, more mature and sincere than I expected. Very enjoyable and a salutary reminder that not everyone has a good start in life.

Doodledog

Katek

Jerry Springer is one to watch - older episode but very powerful. I second Josh Widdicombe and Judi Dench, but Alexander Armstrong and Rob Rinder episodes are well worth watching as well.

I mentioned JW and JD as the episodes are still on iPlayer. My favourite I think) was Jeremy Paxman, but I don't think it's available any more. One side of his family were solidly middle class and wealthy, and he was very comfortable with that. When he saw his origins on another side of the family, however, he was moved to tears.

I have watched the programme since it started, and no longer care who's on it. Sometimes people who are interesting in themselves have rather pedestrian ancestors, and people I've never heard of or who I don't particularly like have fascinating stories - it's very unpredictable.

Yes. I remember that one vividly. Paxman cries . I used to love WDYTYA all the time but got out of the habit of watching it. Must do some catching up. Josh’s one was particularly good wasn’t it.

I would say she's far from stupid, considering what she's worth.
That seems to be the yardstick by which a lot of people judge.

I think Michael Parkinson said he was too dull for the programme

Dame Judy’s programme was really excellent, the Shakespeare connections particularly. I like the way they make history real by putting the ancestor stories into a wider context. I would guess there are probably some people for whom they don’t find out anything very interesting though, that may be why some don’t air.

There's a difference between a celebrity and a star.

Dame Judi Dench is a star.
And, according to many, a National Treasure.

Probably many very famous stars don't particularly want to appear on WDYTYA.
One very famous star was researched years ago but the programme never aired even though it would have been very interesting. Perhaps the star changed their mind, who knows.

Ilovedogs22

Doodledog

That's hardly the point though. The programme is about the ancestors, not the celebrities. Also, much depends on what the researchers can find out. The most fascinating person could have a relatively tame history, and someone boring could come from a line of interesting people.

I sort of understand your point but it is the fact that Gemma Collins & her ilk even fall into the hallowed category of celebrity🤔
Two things come to mind.
1. Stop making stupid people famous.
2. Why is modern life so mediocre. 🤔

Oof!

I'm not a particular fan of GC, but neither am I in her target audience. There is room for all sorts of people in the hall of fame, surely? From what we found out on WDYTYA, she has made more of a success of her life than could have been expected given her start in life - nothing mediocre about it, as far as I can see.

Quite unkind to call someone you don't know stupid.

Doodledog

That's hardly the point though. The programme is about the ancestors, not the celebrities. Also, much depends on what the researchers can find out. The most fascinating person could have a relatively tame history, and someone boring could come from a line of interesting people.

I sort of understand your point but it is the fact that Gemma Collins & her ilk even fall into the hallowed category of celebrity🤔
Two things come to mind.
1. Stop making stupid people famous.
2. Why is modern life so mediocre. 🤔

Yes some of them are fascinating.

I don't think his was as good as some of the other Big Name Relatives ones (I don't want to spoil them for those who haven't seen them). There is always a certain amount of acting going on, but DD was way over the top, I think.

I've remembered, Boris Johnson's was good too - obviously he overacted too - sounded like a character from the Beano if memory serves- all 'super' and 'golly', but it was a very interesting episode. I doubt it's available though.