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Who do you think you are? Hmm, it seems a strange question to ask the world’s bestselling author of all time, but BBC1’s leading genealogy series went ahead and asked it anyway, with JK Rowling as in ‘rolling’, not Rowling as in ‘fouling’ (you wouldn’t believe how often that’s bugged me), taking the opportunity to trace her fuzzy French roots. And while my foolish hopes were crushed in that she didn’t uncover any Hermiones who were burned at the stake, what she did find made for an arresting hour of television.
JK’s first challenge was to find out more about her great-grandfather, Louis Volant, a Frenchman who was awarded a Légion d’honneur (an honour that JK has also received) for his services in the First World War. This fuelled a trip to London’s Savoy restaurant, before she crossed the border to France, alas, by Eurostar and not broomstick. (It didn’t even set off from platform 9¾.) Once there, she managed… well, the hundred-strong BBC production team managed to uncover even earlier generations, with some twists and turns, and even more tears, along the way. (I fear for the Thames Flood Barrier if Amanda Holden ever gets offered this show.)
I should probably admit at this point that I’ve never seen an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? before, so this edition could well have been formulaic to people who have seen all of the previous seven series, but I found it fascinating. While I’ve no doubt that researching your own family tree, as I instantly wanted to do after watching this, would be more difficult than portrayed, I really liked how the episode showed that genealogy isn’t all plain sailing. The most memorable incident was where JK discovered that her Louis Volant had actually been confused with another Louis Volant, and had not, in actual fact, received the Légion d’Honneur.
This led to more visits to yet more stunning buildings, housing some wonderfully crafted tomes, for which the description ‘book’ seems too demeaning. How I wish I had some of them on my bookshelves… though I don’t know how well they’d sit next to my £7.99 paperbacks.
After deciphering handwriting that was on that fine border between beautiful and illegible, JK learnt that her Louis had actually received a different award for his fighting skills, after being unexpectedly involved in a brutal battle. It was a touching moment, with a very raw, natural reaction from JK that further increased my, already very high, opinion of her. (Though there really was no need for her to tell us that she finds bravery against impossible odds to be the most impressive. We’ve all read Deathly Hallows, love.)
As the episode progressed, she traced her line back yet further, and it continued to be surprisingly fast-moving, interesting television, that must also be commended for the sensitivity and subtlety that was displayed throughout, never overdoing the background music, or the extreme close ups in emotional moments. Instead, the story was allowed to do the talking, and while this story didn’t contain any witches, it was spellbinding all the same.
See the next edition of Who Do You Think You Are?, featuring Sebastian Coe, Wednesday 9pm BBC1.
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