Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Thames Television's Teddington Studios provide a permanent new home for This Is Your Life, and most programmes over the next several series were recorded at the Thames riverside studios.
TV Times launched the new series with an article focusing on the various disguises employed by Eamonn Andrews to spring his surprises. And later in the series, the magazine published an article on how the production team maintain secrecy by using unique code names for each subject.
The BBC review programme, Did You See...? broadcast a special edition devoted to This Is Your Life which included rare behind-the-scenes footage of a recent edition, along with interviews with presenter Eamonn Andrews, current producer Malcolm Morris and the programme's original producer Leslie T Jackson.
This Is Your Life history was made when the actor, comedian, composer and musician became the first subject to be honoured twice by Thames Television. This second tribute - a rare two-part edition - was recorded in Hollywood and broadcast over two consecutive weeks.
And unusually, this year's subject list included two couples - one of which received an hour-long special broadcast on New Year's Eve.
related pages...
Bill WADDINGTON | Actor and comedian | 15 October 1986 |
Robert FOOTE | British Army Officer | 22 October 1986 |
Carl DAVIS | American conductor and composer | 29 October 1986 |
Gorden KAYE | Actor | 5 November 1986 |
Pearl CARR and | Husband and wife entertainers | 12 November 1986 |
Teddy JOHNSON | ||
Monty FRESCO | Fleet Street photographer | 19 November 1986 |
Joe JOHNSON | Snooker player | 26 November 1986 |
Susan GEORGE | Actress | 3 December 1986 |
Bill WARD | TV executive | 10 December 1986 |
Rachel KEMPSON | Actress | 17 December 1986 |
Gary WILMOT | Impressionist, singer and comedian | 24 December 1986 |
Cliff MICHELMORE and | Husband and wife broadcasters | 31 December 1986 |
Jean METCALFE | ||
Liz HOBBS | Water skier | 7 January 1987 |
Jack BERG | Former boxer | 14 January 1987 |
Derek SCOTT | Lifeboatman | 21 January 1987 |
Patricia HODGE | Actress | 28 January 1987 |
Harry FRIEND | Policeman – recipient of British Empire Medal | 4 February 1987 |
Norman WISDOM | Comedian and actor | 11 February 1987 |
Denis COMPTON | Test cricketer | 18 February 1987 |
Christopher CAZENOVE | Actor | 25 February 1987 |
Dudley MOORE | Actor, comedian, composer and musician | 4 March 1987 |
Dudley MOORE | 11 March 1987 | |
Terry MARSH | Boxer | 18 March 1987 |
David JACOBS | Broadcaster | 25 March 1987 |
Willie RUSHTON | Comedian and cartoonist | 1 April 1987 |
Gabrielle DRAKE | Actress | 8 April 1987 |
Broadcast details
Thames Television production for ITVProduction team
Producer: Malcolm Morris | Associate Producer: Brian Klein | Programme Consultant: Roy Bottomley