This Is Your Life: Andrew Sachs

Andrew SACHS (1930-2016)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Andrews Sachs, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while signing copies of his newly released comedy single at the HMV store on London's Oxford Street.

Andrew, who was born in Berlin, Germany, emigrated to London with his family in 1938 to escape persecution under the Nazis. In the late 1950s, whilst studying shipping management at college, he worked on several BBC Radiophonic Workshop radio productions.

Following a period in repertory theatre, he made his West End debut in the 1958 production of the Whitehall farce, Simple Spymen, and would make his screen debut a year later in the film The Night We Dropped a Clanger. Andrew appeared in numerous television series throughout the 1960s, but his portrayal of the Spanish waiter Manuel in the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers in the mid 1970s made him a household name.

"I've got a show to do!"

programme details...

Edition No: 527
Subject No: 524
Broadcast date: Wed 2 Jan 1980
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Wed 19 Dec 1979
Venue: New London Theatre
Series: 20
Edition: 6
Code name: Avenue

on the guest list...

Leslie Phillips
June Whitfield
Sylvia Syms
Derek Bond
Amanda Holmes
Monica Grey
Helen Gill
Nicholas Field
Melody Lang - wife
John - stepson
Bill - stepson
Katie - daughter
Barbara - aunt
Evelyn Field
David Lees
Ray Cooney
Brian Rix
Jessie Matthews
Mollie Sugden
Patricia Routledge
Tom - brother
John Cleese
Barbara - sister
Keith Michell

production team...

Researchers: Robin Ellis-Bextor, Vivien Lind, Tom Wettengel
Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Terry Yarwood, Anthony Parker
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

The Good Life

the sitcom stars

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Screenshots of Andrew Sachs This Is Your Life

Andrew Sachs recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, I Know Nothing!...

This Is Your Life was also a popular show in the 1970s. Eamonn Andrews, who presented it, was one of the biggest stars on TV. The format was simple. The show covered someone's life in thirty minutes with contributions from family, friends and colleagues. It was entertaining, potted biography. The gimmick was that the subject of each show was surprised, as he or she had no idea they were about to be the hero of an episode. Thames TV's team, who made it, were adept at persuading the family and friends of their subjects to keep quiet and skilful at ambushing their 'victims'.

I certainly didn't guess I was in Eamonn Andrews's firing line when I was doing a photo shoot in central London. The organisers just told me we were to go to the record shop HMV in Oxford Street to sign some photos.

I was, of course, dressed as Manuel. I went up the stairs to the top floor and found a crowd of people waiting for me with photos to sign. I started signing and then looked to my right and saw a man I didn't realise was Eamonn Andrews. Then, he announced himself and uttered his trademark, 'Andrew Sachs, this is your life.'

I was flummoxed and just said, 'What?' Laughing, I soon realised I was to be the subject of the big red book.

I was whisked off to the studios where I found Melody with a suit ready for me, so I changed, went into make-up and we got on with it. Eamonn Andrews was sweating so much throughout the recording he was dripping onto the book of my life. It was rather worrying, and I had to calm him down, just as Manuel had tried to calm Mr Fawlty sometimes. The show was, like all such shows, highly staged. Melody, Bill, John and Kate all took part, as did Leslie Phillips, who called me an 'enchanting fellow' and gave me a quick kiss; June Whitfield; and the diva Jessie Matthews herself, who appeared in a billowing blue gown. John Cleese recorded a hilarious tribute. My sister Barbara was in Kenya but recorded a message. My auntie Barbara was flown in from Munich and spoke remarkably good English. My brother Tom flew in from Toronto. I enjoyed it, even though sometimes it made it seem as if my whole career had been a prelude to playing Manuel.

Series 20 subjects