This Is Your Life: Alicia Markova 2

Dame Alicia MARKOVA DBE (1910-2004)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Alicia Markova, ballerina, choreographer and teacher, was surprised by Michael Aspel during an interview about her forthcoming biography in the crush bar of London's Royal Opera House.

Most noted for her career with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and for touring internationally with the company she founded with Anton Dolin, now known as English National Ballet, Alicia is widely considered to be one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of the 20th century.

She was the first British dancer to become the principal dancer of a ballet company, and was a founder dancer of the Rambert Dance Company, The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. After her retirement in 1963 she continued to play an active role in the ballet and theatre industry as a teacher, director and choreographer.

Alicia Markova was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions – previously surprised by Eamonn Andrews in January 1960 at London's Royal Festival Hall.

"I'm speechless!"

programme details...

Edition No: 925
Subject No: second timer
Broadcast date: Wed 4 Oct 1995
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Tue 19 Sep 1995
Venue: unknown
Series: 36
Edition: 5
Code name: Legend

on the guest list...

Antoinette Sibley
Wayne Sleep
Thomas Edur
Agnes Oaks
Maurice Leonard
Joel - great nephew
Neil - great nephew
Gavin - great nephew
Jimmy Tarbuck
letter from Diana, Princess of Wales
Milorad Miskovitch
Doris - sister
Vivienne - sister
Susie - niece
Nigel - nephew
Natasha - great niece
Wendy Toye
Freddie Franklin
Beryl Grey
Ned Sherrin
David Johnson
Peter Schaufuss
Ram Gopal
Ninette de Valois
David Gayle
Joan Sutherland
Richard Bonynge

production team...

Researcher: Louise Mason
Writer: Maurice Leonard
Director: Brian Klein
Associate Producer: John Graham
Executive Producer: Peter Estall
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Alicia Markova

first tribute

A Dancer's Life

from ballet to ballroom

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

Maurice Leonard

the researcher's story

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Screenshots of Alicia Markova This Is Your Life

Producer Malcolm Morris recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is My Life...

Dame Alicia Markova was known throughout the world as one of the greatest ballerinas of all time. We were going to spring our surprise on the great lady in the very plush Crush Bar of the Covent Garden Opera House, the scene of many of her ballet triumphs.

She thought she was going to be interviewed for her forthcoming biography Markova: the Legend. Although the book was real the interview wasn't but the author, Maurice Leonard, an old friend of mine, had agreed to pretend to be the interviewer.

The plan was that many of her friends, including the dancer Wayne Sleep, were to be hidden behind a panel where the interview was due to take place. On my signal Michael would sneak out from behind the panel on one side while her friends came round from the other; it seemed simple enough to me but everyone else thought this was too dangerous as she might wander round behind the panel when she arrived.

'Why on earth would she do that?' I argued. 'No, don't worry, I'll see the lady goes straight in front of the panel and sits down.'

I was confident I could manoeuvre her to sit in front of it and that was that. Why do people always want to argue with the producer?

Dame Alicia knew that the interview was to be for television, so the cameras would not be a surprise, and I was to be the freelance television director hired for the occasion. Dame Alicia arrived and I graciously greeted her and led her to the chairs in front of the panel as planned.

'Not yet,' she said as she saw a mirror behind the panel and began to move towards it. 'I will just check my hair before we start,' she said quite reasonably.

'You look absolutely wonderful and your hair is perfect.' I led her again towards the chair.

'Thank you, you are kind,' said Dame Alicia, 'but I would like to see for myself,' and once again she pulled her arm out of my clutches and went towards the back of the panel.

I literally jumped in front of her, rudely blocking her way, and I think she was taken aback by my abruptness. 'You can't go in there,' I said as her eyebrows rose. I quickly continued. 'The carpet has just been dry cleaned and is still wet.' I bravely ploughed on: 'And... and... and I've been warned by the staff that it will rot your shoes, yes, rot them.'

Her mouth began to drop open as I guided her once again back to the seat. I continued with some desperation, 'And I have a large make-up mirror for you,' I had lied, of course, and as she sat down I called out, 'Who has taken the mirror?' I looked around. 'Don't worry, Dame Alicia, it will be here in one moment, and while we wait, would you like a rehearsal?'

She agreed, and as we started her friends came around the panel and Michael arrived on time to take her hand and say the words: 'Dame Alicia Markova, This Is Your Life.'

It was a most wonderful warm and moving evening and although she forgave me with a kiss on each cheek, I don't think she will ever trust any more freelance television directors. Come to think of it, neither will her friends.

Series 36 subjects