A new series of the BBC Radio Scotland genealogy programme Digging Up Your Roots started last weekend (I only noticed this because the podcast popped up on Google Reader, otherwise I would have been none the wiser).
According to the BBC website this is the sixth series, although the presenter (Bill Whiteford) says in the introduction that it is series seven, so I am not sure who to believe.
The first episode is about High Achievers, people who left their mark on Scotland and the World (in a good way). In some respects this episode felt like an antidote to the stream of celebrity family trees that regularly try to make the headlines.
Apart from the few famous people in this episode the programme is largely devoid of celebrities, either as guests or subjects, and it is quite refreshing to hear about the lives of ordinary people and the research of ordinary people.
Although my family tree is very short on Scottish ancestors it is interesting to hear about family history from a Scottish perspective, and it is also good to hear from a genealogy expert (in this case Dr Bruce Durie) other than the ubiquitous Nick Barrett.
Even if you don’t have Scottish ancestors it is well worth listening to, if you are not fortunate enough to live in Scotland then it can be found on the BBC iPlayer and is also available as a podcast, although I can’t seem to find it on the BBCs podcast page, but this feed seems to work for me.
Thanks for this, John. I only listen to Radio Scotland for the news in the morning, and was not aware of this programme. I liked your phrase “an antidote to celebrities”. There are many individuals from 18th and 19th centuries in my area (the Scottish Borders) who are not well known now, but neverthelss stamped their mark on history and made a contribution both at home and abroad.
It sounds a bit like the old Adam Hart-Davis “Local Heroes” TV programme where he looked at many unsung heroes who changed the way we (and our ancestors) lived, bit didn’t really receive the recognition they deserved.
I’m waiting with baited breath – I have one of the stories that will be featured on the show later in the season!
Sounds like an exciting experience, I look forward to hearing your story and the rest of the series.
Absolutely. The interviews are “blind,” if you will, and I don’t learn anything about their research until the show airs. I responded to a call for stories that Chris Paton recirculated. It’ll be a surprise for my family, so I’m interested to see what they’ve dug up!
I’ve been told it will be on the episode this coming Sunday the 15th.