Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life: Articles
Series 1 |
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| Snoopers on TV? Not on your life! 1 March 1955 | |
| The Daily Express reports on an American import | |
| The Surprise of Your Life 22 July 1955 | |
| Radio Times previews the first edition | |
| American Feature Arrives 30 July 1955 | |
| The Manchester Guardian reviews the first edition | |
| This Is Your Life 23 September 1955 | |
| Radio Times previews the second edition | |
| This Is Your Life: The Show that can never be fully rehearsed 17 December 1955 | |
| TV Mirror goes behind-the-scenes of the first series | |
| This Is My Life 21/8 April 1956 | |
| John Bull Magazine interviews Eamonn Andrews | |
Series 2 |
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| Mr Eamonn Andrews 20 October 1956 | |
| TV Mirror reports on the presenter's popularity | |
| Poignant Moment 9 November 1956 | |
| Radio Times editorial | |
| These Shows Live On: Why? 29 December 1956 | |
| A brief review from Picturegoer magazine | |
| What goes on behind that Green Door 26 April 1957 | |
| The Acton Gazette goes behind-the-scenes | |
Series 3 |
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| These Are My Lines... 27 September 1957 | |
| Radio Times previews the third series | |
| Ronald Vivian 7 October 1957 | |
| Press coverage of the production team's new member | |
| This is Leslie Jackson's Life November 1957 | |
| Interview with the first producer of This Is Your Life | |
| Cover Story 4 May 1958 | |
| Eamonn Andrews reveals his plans as the series ends | |
| This Is Your Life by Eamonn Andrews 10 May 1958 | |
| Weekend Magazine reports from behind-the-scenes | |
| Eamonn Andrews Answers the Question that Everyone Asks Him! 1958 | |
| Eamonn Andrews defends his high-profile | |
Series 4 |
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| Is This Your Life? 26 September 1958 | |
| Radio Times previews the new series | |
| Tommy Steele's Second Year climaxed by This Is Your Life October 1958 | |
| The entertainer's rise to fame | |
| Viewers Watch Spirit Form On Their TV Screens 29 November 1958 | |
| A report from Two Worlds Magazine | |
| Is This The Best TV Can Do? 4 December 1958 | |
| The Stage reviews a recent edition | |
| Will a 'Life' man ever stalk out? 2 February 1959 | |
| News Chronicle editorial | |
| This Is Your Life 8 March 1959 | |
| Radio Times editorial | |
Series 5 |
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| The Return Of This Is Your Life 28 August 1959 | |
| Radio Times previews the new series | |
| Eyes On Camera Four 20 November 1959 | |
| Behind-the-scenes secrets revealed by Radio Times | |
| 'This Is Your Life' But It Dominates MINE! 1959 | |
| Producer Leslie Jackson recalls some heart-stopping moments | |
| Eamonn Takes a 'Rest' 1 April 1960 | |
| Radio Times editorial as series 5 comes to an end | |
Series 6 |
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| My Line, Your Life And Laughter 16 September 1960 | |
| Radio Times previews the new series | |
| Split Second Danny 10 November 1960 | |
| Radio Times feature on the programme's chauffeur | |
| Award Winners 1960: This Is Your Life 7 January 1961 | |
| Eamonn Andrews receives an award nomination | |
| Danny Blanchflower 6 February 1961 | |
| Press coverage of the footballer's refusal to participate | |
| This is Your Life 4 May 1961 | |
| Radio Times interviews producer Leslie Jackson | |
Series 7 |
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| This Is Your Life 28 September 1961 | |
| Radio Times previews the seventh series | |
| Woman's voice in TV shock 31 October 1961 | |
| Daily Sketch interview with director Yvonne Littlewood | |
| Behind The Scenes Of This Is Your Life 9 November 1961 | |
| Radio Times feature on the frustrations of a 'Life' researcher | |
Series 8 |
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| This Is Your Life 27 September 1962 | |
| Radio Times previews the eighth series | |
| This Is Your Life 1 November 1962 | |
| Radio Times marks the 200th edition | |
| Radio Times Portrait Gallery 27 June 1963 | |
| Radio Times profiles Eamonn Andrews | |
Series 9 |
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| This Is Your Life 26 September 1963 | |
| Radio Times previews the ninth series | |
| This Is Your Life 28 November 1963 | |
| Radio Times feature on the sleuth-like manner of the 'pick-up' | |
Series 10 |
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| An Irish Man Of Property 15 May 1969 | |
| TV Times article on Eamonn Andrews | |
| Return of This Is Your Life 19 June 1969 | The Stage reports on the ITV launch |
| Forecast... 15 November 1969 | |
| Eamonn Andrews previews the programme's relaunch | |
| It's the show that balances on a tightrope 15 November 1969 | |
| TV Times interviews footballer Danny Blanchflower | |
| This Is Your Life 19 November 1969 | |
| TV Times previews the new series | |
| Street Of Fame 17 January 1970 | |
| TV Times article on Eamonn Andrews | |
| Gale Pedrick 24 February 1970 | |
| Obituaries for This Is Your Life's first scriptwriter | |
| Tommy Steele: This Is Your Life 21 March 1970 | |
| A profile of the entertainer | |
| Elizabeth Twistington Higgins: This Is Your Life 4 April 1970 | |
| A profile of the ballet dancer | |
| Eamonn faces up to his question time 25 April 1970 | |
| TV Times article on the family life of Eamonn Andrews | |
Series 11 |
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| The return of This Is Your Life 8 October 1970 | |
| The Stage previews the new series | |
| Eamonn Andrews: This Is Your Other Life... 14 November 1970 | |
| TV Times article on Eamonn Andrews | |
Series 12 |
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| Life Is Full Of Surprises 13 November 1971 | |
| Producer Robert Tyrrell reveals some 'cloak and dagger' tactics | |
| Life Is What They Make It... 6 May 1972 | |
| New producer Malcolm Morris reveals more behind-the-scenes secrets | |
Series 13 |
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| Eamonn Andrews is back with another 'Life' 11 November 1972 | |
| TV Times previews the new series | |
| How To Deceive Your Husband 11 November 1972 | |
| TV Times takes a light-hearted look at keeping a secret | |
| The secret life of Eamonn Andrews 24 October 1973 | |
| Weekend Magazine feature on the show's popularity | |
Series 14 |
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| Roger Elliot Predicts For Eamonn Andrews 20 February 1974 | |
| The TV Times astrologer predicts the year ahead for Eamonn Andrews | |
| Not on your life 21 February 1974 | |
| Press coverage of Richard Gordon's 'on air' refusal of the big red book | |
Series 15 |
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| Being gentlemen solves many of Life's problems 9 November 1974 | |
| TV Times interview with new producer Jack Crawshaw | |
| Life Lines 19 April 1975 | |
| TV Times feature on recent subjects | |
| The Night We Shocked Petula 3 May 1975 | |
| TV Times photo feature on Petula Clark's second This Is Your Life surprise | |
Series 16 |
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| Some people can't cope with being a superstar... 22 November 1975 | |
| A frank interview with Eamonn Andrews | |
| Your Invitation to ITV 21 18 September 1976 | |
| TV Times highlights a This Is Your Life special | |
Series 17 |
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| Mr Crawshaw ... This is your nightmare 14 March 1977 | |
| Daily Telegraph interview with producer Jack Crawshaw | |
Series 18 |
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| Surprise flies supersonic 19 November 1977 | |
| TV Times photo feature | |
Series 19 |
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| The deuce of a job getting Ginny's jigsaw to fit 21 October 1978 | |
| TV Times feature on Virginia Wade | |
| This is his life... 15 December 1978 | |
| Irish magazine RTE Guide reveals some behind-the-scenes secrets | |
| Aspects Of Aspel 3 February 1979 | |
| TV Times interview with Michael Aspel | |
Series 20 |
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| Royalty plans future as opera-dance venue in Thames TV tie-up 28 August 1980 | |
| The Stage reports on This Is Your Life's new home | |
Series 21 |
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| Magic Book That Opens New Chapters Of Life 11 October 1980 | |
| TV Times feature on 'The Unsung Heroes' | |
| Letters to the editor December 1974 - November 1980 | |
| A selection of reader's letters from TV Times | |
| This is the secret life 3 October 1981 | |
| Jack Crawshaw reviews his time on This Is Your Life | |
Series 22 |
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| This is their life 24 October 1981 | |
| A TV Times photocall for the production team | |
Series 23 |
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| Life's awkward moments 23 October 1982 | |
| TV Times looks at some 'unplanned' incidents | |
| Katie Boyle's Roman circus 20 November 1982 | |
| TV Times feature on Katie Boyle | |
Series 24 |
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| The seven ages of Eamonn 23 October 1983 | |
| TV Times feature on Eamonn Andrews | |
Series 25 |
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| This is my life... I love it 13 October 1984 | |
| TV Times interviews Eamonn Andrews | |
| This Is Your Life 1 November 1984 | |
| A feature from Television and Radio 1985 | |
| Mrs Andrews' line is tops with the brides 17 November 1984 | |
| TV Times feature on Eamonn's wife, Grainne | |
Series 26 |
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| When a life hangs in the balance 12 October 1985 | |
| TV Times reveals more behind-the-scenes stories | |
| Michael's busy Lizzie 20 September 1986 | |
| A TV Times pre-This Is Your Life interview with Michael Aspel | |
Series 27 |
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| Eamonn's surprising disguises 11 October 1986 | |
| TV Times feature on some bizarre outfits | |
| Secret names that have special meaning 15 November 1986 | |
| TV Times reveals more secrets from television's most secretive show | |
| Did You See...? 4 March 1987 | |
| Press reviews of the BBC's Did You See...? special on This Is Your Life | |
Series 28 |
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| Andrews's death casts doubt on his show 6 November 1987 | |
| The Guardian reports the death of Eamonn Andrews | |
| Obituaries: Eamonn Andrews 6 November 1987 | |
| Press coverage of the death and memorial service of Eamonn Andrews | |
| This Was Your Life! 6 November 1987 | |
| The Sun's coverage of the death of Eamonn Andrews | |
| Eamonn Remembered 20 November 1987 | |
| RTE Guide tribute to Eamonn Andrews | |
| Life as seen by Aspel 1 April 1988 | |
| Press speculation and announcements on new presenter Michael Aspel | |
| A programme with a life of its own 1 June 1988 | |
| The Independent profiles the programme's history | |
Series 29 |
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| Yes, This Is Our Life! 4 October 1988 | |
| Woman's Own interviews Lizzie Power - wife of Michael Aspel | |
| How they asked Aspel 28 October 1988 | |
| TV Times interviews new presenter Michael Aspel | |
| Secrets Of 'Life': The ones who got away 21 January 1989 | |
| Producer Malcolm Morris exposes some production secrets to TV Times | |
| The day we lost The Big Red Book 28 January 1989 | |
| Further secrets revealed by producer Malcolm Morris | |
| He Was Their Life... 25 September 1989 | |
| The children of Eamonn Andrews remember him in a feature for Woman's Own | |
| Eamonn Andrews by Tom Brennand 26 March 1989 | |
| Press reviews of the former scriptwriter's new book | |
Series 30 |
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| How Eamonn carved a life from insecure beginnings 15 March 1990 | |
| The Stage reviews the book For Ever and Ever, Eamonn | |
| You Thought You Were Here To... 5 May 1990 | |
| A TV Guide feature celebrating the programme's 500th edition | |
| Who's the real burger then? 7 May 1990 | |
| A TV Times quiz on the programme's code names | |
Series 31 |
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| Just A Few Words Of Thanks... 5 December 1990 | |
| Michael Aspel's weekly TV Times column | |
| My kind of day - Michael Aspel 2 March 1991 | |
| Radio Times feature on Michael Aspel | |
| This Is My Life by Michael Aspel 2 March 1991 | |
| What's on TV magazine interviews Michael Aspel | |
| Michael Hands Over His Secrets 9 March 1991 | |
| TV Times feature on Michael Aspel | |
Series 32 |
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| Six Of Their Best! 16 October 1991 | |
| Celebrities select their ideal This Is Your Life subject | |
| How We Kept The Secret 15 April 1992 | |
| TV Times interviews recent subjects | |
| Obituaries: T Leslie Jackson 23 April 1992 | |
| Press obituaries for This Is Your Life's first producer | |
| Klein's having the time of his life 14 May 1992 | |
| The Stage interview with Associate Producer Brian Klein | |
Series 33 |
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| Secrets Of The Big Red Book 26 September 1992 | |
| TV Times launches another new series | |
| Thames, this is your afterlife 16 December 1992 | |
| The Independent reports on changes at Teddington Studios | |
| BBC harks back to a previous life 29 July 1993 | |
| The Guardian reports on the return to the BBC | |
| This Is Your Life goes back to its birthplace 29 July 1993 | |
| Press coverage on the return to the BBC | |
| This Is Your Life 30 July 1993 | |
| The Daily Mail profiles the programme's history | |
Series 34 |
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| Me, calm? I couldn't be more nervous 29 January 1994 | |
| TV Times interviews Michael Aspel | |
Series 35 |
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| The Night Gary Glitter Fans Nearly Killed Me! 29 October 1994 | |
| TV Times interviews producer Malcolm Morris | |
| This is my life... 17 December 1994 | |
| Radio Times interviews Michael Aspel | |
Series 36 |
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| Mr Cool Needs To Turn Up The Heat 24 August 1996 | |
| Daily Record interview with Michael Aspel | |
Series 37 |
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| Ratings slump sounds death knell for This Is Your Life 17 November 1996 | |
| Press speculation on the future of This Is Your Life | |
Series 38 |
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| Secrets of Aspel's Success… 30 August 1997 | |
| The Mirror previews the new series | |
Series 39 |
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| Vere Lorrimer 15 October 1998 | |
| The Stage obituary for the former producer of This Is Your Life | |
Series 40 |
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| Is this the end of your life? 1 November 1999 | |
| The Guardian questions the future of This Is Your Life | |
| Biggest night of all for the big red book 14 January 2000 | |
| Press coverage for The Night of 1000 Lives | |
| 10 Things You Didn't Know About... Michael Aspel 30 September 2000 | |
| Coventry Evening Telegraph feature | |
| This is your new life 21 October 2000 | |
| Radio Times interviews Michael Aspel | |
Series 41 |
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| The Great Survivor - Michael Aspel 2 June 2001 | |
| Birmingham Evening Mail interview with Michael Aspel | |
Series 42 |
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| This is your loft 4 November 2001 | |
| The Sunday Times feature on Eamonn Andrews | |
| This was his life 4 July 2002 | |
| Maurice Leonard recalls Eamonn Andrews | |
| Rocky start to Aspel's career 30 July 2002 | |
| The Western Mail interviews Michael Aspel | |
Series 43 |
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| Aspel Takes It All In His Stride 31 December 2002 | |
| Belfast News Letter reports on Michael Aspel's 15 years on This Is Your Life | |
| Prop Watch: This is your...big red book 4 January 2003 | |
| Radio Times looks at the show's true icon | |
| The Big Red Book 14 January 2003 | |
| The Western Mail recalls subjects with Welsh roots | |
| My Life in Their Hands 18 January 2003 | |
| The Mirror interviews Michael Aspel | |
| This Was Your Life! 15 May 2003 | |
| Press coverage on the uncertain future of This Is Your Life | |
| End of an era as Aspel closes his big red book 3 June 2003 | |
| Press coverage as Michael Aspel quits This Is Your Life | |
| True Lives: Eamonn 13 October 2003 | |
| Press coverage of a new documentary on Eamonn Andrews | |
| BBC axes This Is Your Life 21 October 2003 | |
| Press coverage of the BBC's announcement | |
recent |
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| Torture, Treacle, Tears and Trickery unknown date | |
| The Controversy Surrounding This Is Your Life in the 1950s | |
| I have cancer but I'm feeling fine, says Aspel 5 January 2004 | |
| Press coverage of Michael Aspel's health | |
| John Sandilands 8 April 2004 | |
| Daily Telegraph obituary for the former This Is Your Life scriptwriter | |
| TV star Eamonn Andrews loved Portmarnock home 23 September 2004 | |
| Irish Independent feature on Eamonn Andrews | |
| This Is Your Life set for return 7 October 2005 | |
| Press coverage of the programme's relaunch | |
| This Is Your Life's creator dies 17 November 2005 | |
| BBC report on the death of Ralph Edwards | |
| Michael Aspel's revenge on the autocuties 16 August 2007 | |
| Daily Mail interview with Michael Aspel | |
| Not on your life, mate! 24 October 2011 | |
| Daily Mail feature | |
| Obituaries: Roy Bottomley 22 December 2011 | |
| Press obituaries for This Is Your Life scriptwriter | |
| This is Your Life: 1969 - 1985 30 October 2012 | |
| A personal account | |
| Stanley Matthews should have been on the first This Is Your Life 3 July 2013 | |
| Look and Learn magazine feature | |
| The Origin of This Is Your Life 8 April 2016 | |
| A comprehensive account of how it all started | |
| Magic Moments 29 July 2016 | |
| TV Times celebrates This Is Your Life | |
| Somewhere, Someone - This Is Your Life 2 July 2018 | |
| Talk of Thames feature on the programme's 1969 relaunch | |
| My life through a lens 8 May 2020 | |
| Michael Aspel chooses his favourite photographs for the Mail Online | |
| The time of their lives 25 July 2020 | |
| Leicester Mercury feature | |
| This is his life 9 December 2022 | |
| An Irish Post feature on Eamonn Andrews | |
| Paul Stewart Laing obituary 10 February 2023 | |
| The Guardian obituary for the former This Is Your Life director |