Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Barbara KELLY (1924-2007)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Barbara Kelly, actress and broadcaster, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the foyer of London's Tower Hotel, having been led to believe she was there to attend a business appointment.
Barbara, who was born in Vancouver, Canada, met Bernard Braden when they were both working as radio actors with the Canadian Broadcasting Company. After being married in 1942, they worked together on radio and toured the country in stage shows, before moving to London in 1949.
Barbara and Bernard found fame on BBC radio throughout the 1950s and 1960s with popular series such as Breakfast with Braden and Bedtime With Braden. Barbara also appeared in several films during the early 1950s, before becoming a television personality in her own right as a regular panellist on the BBC's hugely successful game show What's My Line?
"Eamonn! But I've got flu!"
programme details...
- Edition No: 498
- Subject No: 496
- Broadcast date: Wed 15 Nov 1978
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Wed 11 Oct 1978
- Venue: New London Theatre
- Series: 19
- Edition: 4
- Code name: Dry
on the guest list...
- Gerald Harper
- Raymond Baxter
- Hughie Green
- Magnus Pyke
- Desmond Morris
- Bernard Braden - husband
- Kelly - daughter
- Chris - son
- Kim - daughter
- Ron - brother
- Sandy - sister-in-law
- Lister Sinclair
- Bessie Love
- Ian Messiter
- John Roy
- Isobel Barnett
- Lana Morris
- Eva Bartok
- Maxine Audley
- Sandy - grandson
- Joanna - granddaughter
- Kate - granddaughter Filmed tributes:
- David Nixon
- Anthony Valentine
- Ben Lyon
related appearances...
- David Nixon - Dec 1973
- Eamonn Andrews – May 1974
- Frankie Howerd – Oct 1976
- Cyril Fletcher – Mar 1977
- Nyree Dawn Porter – Feb 1980
- Joe Loss – Oct 1980
- Russell Harty – Dec 1980
- Bob Monkhouse – Feb 1982
- Leslie Mitchell – Dec 1982
- Bernard Braden – Jan 1991
- Johnnie Hamp – Feb 1993
- The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
production team...
- Researchers: Maurice Leonard, Sue Jerrard
- Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
- Director: Terry Yarwood
- Producer: Jack Crawshaw
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
celebrating the hosts
keeping it in the family
tributes to the original presenter
the researcher's story
a celebration of a thousand editions
TV Mirror reports on the presenter's popularity
Radio Times previews the third series
TV Times takes a light-hearted look at keeping a secret
When a life hangs in the balance
TV Times reveals more behind-the-scenes stories
Andrews's death casts doubt on his show
The Guardian reports the death of Eamonn Andrews
Kelly Braden, daughter of Barbara Kelly and Bernard Braden, recalls her parents and their editions of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in March 2012
Screenshots of Barbara Kelly This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Barbara Kelly's big red book
Bernard Braden had helped us surprise his wife Barbara Kelly in October 1978.
She had once appeared in a film starring Eva Bartok. Eva flew in from Hollywood at great expense, including a suite at the Savoy, and a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce at her disposal.
Researcher Maurice Leonard told Bernard, enthusiastically, 'We've just landed a great surprise for Barbara's Life - Eva Bartok has flown in.'
Drawled Bernard: 'It'll sure be a surprise all right. They've never met.'
They had shot their scenes for the film on totally separate locations.
Happily for us, both proved consummate actresses when they met on the Life - for the very first time.
Series 19 subjects
Alice Goldberger | Michael Parkinson | Mary O'Hara | Barbara Kelly | Terry Scott | Jimmy Shand | Eric Newby | Patricia NealDavid Bellamy | Muhammad Ali | Vera Lynn | Naomi James | Leslie Thomas | James Galway | Elaine Paige | Lord Lovat
Kevin Keegan | Stephane Grappelli | Robert Powell | Shirley Crabtree | Peter Barkworth | Robert Law | Dinah Sheridan
JPR Williams | Joyce Pearce | Ian Ogilvy | Margaret Kelly