Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Alfred Marks, actor and comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during the curtain call of the farce Don't Just Lie There Say Something at the Garrick Theatre in London.

Alfred, who was the son of Polish immigrants and raised in east London, began his show business career at London's Windmill Theatre. After serving in the Royal Air Force as a Flight Sergeant during the Second World War, where he arranged concerts for the servicemen, he appeared in various theatre productions and on radio, making his name on such programmes as Variety Bandbox and Forces Favourites.

He starred in his own television show, Alfred Marks Time, which ran for 6 years on ITV from 1956 and featured guest stars, including his wife, Paddie O'Neil, while at the same time playing dramatic and comedy roles in numerous television programmes, stage shows and films throughout the 1960s.

programme details...

• Edition No: 310
• Subject No: 311
• Broadcast live: Wed 24 Nov 1971
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Venue: Euston Road Studios
• Series: 12
• Edition: 2

on the guest list...

• Donna Reading
• Leo Franklyn
• Deborah Grant
• Peter Bland
• Nina Thomas
• Michael Cronin
• Joanna Lumley
• Brian Rix
• Paddie O'Neil - wife
• Max - father
• Leila Richman - sister
• Helen Nicholls - sister
• Danielle - daughter
• Gareth - son
• Jack Collins
• David Aylott - in audience
• David Lodge - in audience
• Bill Kerr
• Hymie Valins
• Devi Tuszynski
• Ada Tuszynski
• Max Neiger
• Rachel Neiger
Filmed tributes:
• Peter Sellers
• Hermione Gingold

related appearances...

• John Gregson - Apr 1973
• Paddie O'Neil - Jan 1980
• Michael Aspel - May 1980
• Melvyn Hayes - Jan 1981
• Diana Dors - Oct 1982
• Danny La Rue - Apr 1984
• William Roache - Oct 1985
• Monty Fresco - Nov 1986
• Harry Secombe - Mar 1990
• Bernard Braden - Jan 1991
• Gretchen Franklin - Jan 1995
• Spike Milligan - Feb 1995

production team...

• Researcher: unknown
• Writer: unknown
• Director: Margery Baker
• Producer: Malcolm Morris

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

• with thanks to Gareth and Danielle Marks for their contribution to this page

It's a Funny Old Life

it's all about the comedy

Family Life

keeping it in the family

The Big Red Book

the programme's icon

Life Is What They Make It...

New producer Malcolm Morris reveals more behind-the-scenes secrets

How To Deceive Your Husband

TV Times takes a light-hearted look at keeping a secret

Paddie O'Neil

Brian Rix

Interviews

Danielle Marks, daughter of Alfred Marks, recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in November 2012

Photographs of Alfred Marks This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Alfred Marks's big red book