This Is Your Life: Alicia Markova 1

Alicia MARKOVA CBE (1910-2004)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Alicia Markova, ballerina and choreographer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while handing out presents to children at a party at London's Royal Festival Hall. The This Is Your Life book was gift-wrapped and handed to her by ballet dancer John Gilpin.

Alicia made her first professional appearance aged ten as a solo dancer in the pantomime Dick Whittington in Kennington, London. In 1924, at the age of 14, she was engaged by the world-famous impresario Serge Diaghilev for his acclaimed Ballet Russe, and she performed across Europe until his death prompted her return to Britain.

She joined Ballet Rambert and later, between 1932 and 1935, was the first prima ballerina of the Sadler's Wells Ballet, where she became the first British ballerina to have full-length classical ballets staged especially for her. In 1935, she formed her own company with Anton Dolin and achieved international acclaim, becoming the world's highest-paid ballerina.

Alicia Markova was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions - surprised again by Michael Aspel in September 1995 at London's Royal Opera House.

"Excuse me - you've taken me so unawares!"

programme details...

Edition No: 118
Subject No: 118
Broadcast live: Mon 11 Jan 1960
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Repeated: Wed 14 Aug 1963 9.50pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 5
Edition: 20

on the guest list...

Dorothy Thorne
Irene Webb
Serge Lifar
Marie Rambert
Audrey Taylor
Suzanne Abbott
Doris - sister
Vivienne - sister
Bunny - sister
Margot Fonteyn
Jessie Matthews

production team...

Researcher: Nickola Sterne
Writer: Nickola Sterne
Director: unknown
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Alicia Markova

second tribute

A Dancer's Life

from ballet to ballroom

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

The Big Red Book

the programme's icon

Maurice Leonard

the researcher's story

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Jessie Matthews

Marie Rambert

Photographs and screenshots of Alicia Markova This Is Your Life

Former This Is Your Life researcher and production associate Maurice Leonard recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book Markova: The Legend, reproduced here with kind permission of the author...

I first met Markova on 31 March 1974. At the time I was working for Thames Television's This Is Your Life programme and researching a 'life' on Anton Dolin, Markova's dancing partner. I was about to ask her to come on his show.

They were a distinguished couple whose lives were so intertwined that at times they seemed as one. Many of their fans suspected a romance between them, and hoped for it.

They coursed along brilliantly and sometimes stormily, all their lives, always, in their brilliant ways, caring for each other.

She had met him when she was a child of ten, a professional even then, and billed as 'The Child Pavlova'. He was seven years older and a student. He became a star before her.

I was walking into a potential minefield by asking Markova to appear on Dolin's life. Her own This Is Your Life had been broadcast by the BBC in 1959 and Dolin had been conspicuous by his absence. He had refused to have anything to do with it. He had thought he should be the subject and was jealous. Such temperament was nothing new for the great Dolin, his arrogance matched only by his talent. On this occasion he felt affronted.

It would have been inappropriate to have had Dolin as a subject before Markova. By then she was by far the more durable star. Try explaining that to Dolin.

Markova had been curious as to why Dolin has not appeared on her 'life', but she had known him for over forty years and, helped by a few hints from colleagues, it did not take long for the penny to drop. I was well aware of this when I called to interview her.

She willingly agreed to come on Dolin's show. Had she decided to play tit for tat I would have been in trouble as we could not have done Dolin's 'life' without Markova. It would have been incomplete. She never mentioned the fact that he had not appeared on hers.

In 1959 Alicia herself was the subject of This Is Your Life. She was, as is the policy of the show, in ignorance of what was about to happen until Eamonn Andrews surprised her. Doris (her sister) had been the initial contact, providing the names and whereabouts of the guests. She nearly had a breakdown trying to keep the secret from Alicia who always seemed to be in the room every time a member of the team rang.

Among the guests were Jessie Matthews, who filmed from Australia, Marie Rambert, who told of Alicia's relish for steak and kidney puddings, Serge Lifar, who burst on with the force of a volcano and nearly hugged her to death (she was clearly delighted to see him, all thoughts of their problematical Giselle forgotten), and the show was topped by Fonteyn who told how Alicia was 'both my inspiration and my despair.'

Fonteyn nearly did not make the show. She would not leave home until she had seen the show start. For some reason she was terrified, at that time, of being the subject herself and thought Alicia might have been in on a ruse to ensnare her. Later, when she lived in Panama, she changed her mind and would have been delighted to have been a subject.

As noted, Dolin was conspicuous by his absence. He was disgruntled that Alicia was being honoured rather than he.

Tina Sutton recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in her book, The Making of Markova...

Though not yet named a Dame, Markova and her illustrious career were feted on the popular British television program This Is Your Life in January 1960. Toward the end of the show, the host turned to his honoured guest - who was overcome with emotion - and pointed out that with her childhood infirmities, there was "no one less likely to become the first British ballerina than you!" He then asked Doris what profession she thought Markova might have gone into instead.

"Well, I think she might have made a very good plumber, because when we're travelling in foreign countries and in all sorts of strange theaters when drips go wrong, Alicia always dashes off and fixes it."

"Actually, I think she really wanted to become a doctor. And I think with her great sensitivity, she'd have made a wonderful one."

The show was a big hit and was re-aired. Many wondered out loud at Dolin's absence from the festivities.

Series 5 subjects