This Is Your Life: Paul Shane

Paul SHANE (1940-2013)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Paul Shane, comedian and actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews - and his colleagues from the BBC television sitcom Hi-de-Hi! - after his car was diverted into London's Covent Garden market.

Paul, who was born in Rotherham, began his show business career as a singer in the pubs and clubs of south Yorkshire while working as a miner at Silverwood Colliery. After being pensioned from the mine following an accident, Paul became a full-time entertainer and swapped singing for comedy.

His versatility led to some acting in character roles in various television series, including, in 1979, the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Comedy writer Jimmy Perry spotted Paul in the soap and subsequently cast him as Ted Bovis in the BBC holiday camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi! The series, which began in 1980, instantly made Paul a household name.

"You're kidding? Oh Jesus!"

programme details...

Edition No: 583
Subject No: 580
Broadcast date: Wed 16 Dec 1981
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Wed 2 Dec 1981
Venue: Royalty Theatre
Series: 22
Edition: 10
Code name: Extra

on the guest list...

Simon Cadell
Ruth Madoc
Jeffrey Holland
Su Pollard
Leslie Dwyer
Felix Bowness
Barry Howard
Diane Holland
Nikki Kelly
Rikki Howard
Gail Harrison
Chris Andrews
David Webb
Tony Webb
Dory - wife
Janice - daughter
Andrea - daughter
Gillian - daughter
Bryan Mosley
Madge Hindle
Jimmy Perry
David Croft
Carol - sister
Frank - brother-in-law
June - sister
Ivy - mother-in-law
Edwin - brother-in-law
Brenda - sister-in-law
Margaret - sister-in-law
John - uncle
Ida - aunt
Nell - aunt
Molly - aunt
Bob Hammond
Stan Richards
Les McMahon
Ricky Lee
Leon Riles
Paul Bryan
Jo Bryan
Helene Palmer
John Gorey
Sandy Powell
former workmates at the Silverwood Colliery

production team...

Researcher: John Graham
Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Paul Stewart Laing, Terry Yarwood
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

The Good Life

the sitcom stars

Life's awkward moments

TV Times looks at some 'unplanned' incidents

This Was Your Life!

The Sun's coverage of the death of Eamonn Andrews

Screenshots of Paul Shane This Is Your Life

The Sun article: Paul Shane This Is Your Life

The Sun 6 November 1987

Paul suspected wife of affair

HI-DE-HI star Paul Shane breathed a sigh of relief when Eamonn Andrews sprang his red book surprise on him.

It ended months of misery when Paul feared his wife, Dorry, was having an affair.

The roly-poly comedian thought his marriage was on the rocks because of Dorry's odd behaviour.

In fact, she was just co-operating with the This Is Your Life team.

But her secret meetings and furtive phone calls had convinced Shane she had found another man.

Shane, 47, says: "I was shattered, convinced she was having an affair."

"I wondered how on earth she could do such a thing after 22 years of happy marriage."

"After This Is Your Life, I was so relieved that I went out and bought her a fur coat."

Dorry was so upset at all the anxiety she had caused that she broke down and cried when they got home.

She says: "Paul often caught me on the phone when I was talking to the TV people and he couldn't understand the weak excuses I kept making."

"One day he had to go off on location and a TV official was to call."

"But Paul came home unexpectedly before the man was due to arrive."

"He wanted to give me a surprise. When he saw my shocked face, he misunderstood."

"It got worse when I made an excuse to leave the house."

"I had to find a phone box and speak to the official."

"Paul demanded the truth but I couldn't say anything – which made things worse."

Days later Shane had to go to London to make a record album and Dorry would normally have gone with him.

But she says: "Because there were more TV consultations I again made some silly excuses."

"Paul was nearly in tears. He said we had always done things together and never had any secrets."

"It was a wonderful relief when he understood what had been going on."

Series 22 subjects