I watched 'Who Do You Think You Are?' this week, and found it interesting and moving as always. Two years ago, the show prompted me to research my family history. I suddenly realised I knew virtually nothing about my family, and since all my grandparents had died, I needed to get moving whilst my parents and aunts/uncles were still alive. So the surprise, shock, emotion of the show's participants strikes a chord with me.

I was, therefore, a little surprised last week when I read that John Hurt was a tad miffed because he felt that the show had been edited in such a way as to make him look a bit of a saddo when it was proven that his family were mistaken in believing that they were descended from Irish aristocracy. Griff Rhys Jones also seemed to be conscious of how his reaction would appear given that his family history revealed that his ancestors had fallen on hard times.

However, it seemed to me that their reaction was more shock at the way history had treated their ancestors, or surprize that it had taken them in unforeseen directions, rather than snobbery that they were less well-connected than their family lore had led them to believe.

In my case, family lore had it that my grandmother had researched our family history and discovered that we were descended from royalty. Well, I am impressed if she did prove it, because so far any such connection has eluded me. Instead, my research has revealed that I am descended from weavers, innkeepers, butchers, farmers - generally, working-clas people. But there have been black sheep, notably my great-grandfather's eldest brother, who turned out to be a convict, and ended his days as a pauper in a workhouse. And my reaction on learning this wasn't shame or disappointment, but pity and a deep sense of gratitude for the fact that I lived in more enlightened times - because his crime was to steal a hat and a pair of boots, for which he got 7 years in jail.

So I can imagine that if I discover one day that I am descended from Henry VIII or Charles I, my inner show-off will be delighted. But I hope that my more sensible side will be content with having weavers and the like as my ancestry,rather than a man with a penchant for murdering his wives or someone who started a Civil War that killed thousands.