Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Bill WARD OBE (1916-1999)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Bill Ward, television producer and executive, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during a tribute dinner with television's top executives at the Hyde Park Hotel in London to celebrate his 50 years in television.
Bill, who was born in Plymouth, began his career as a battery boy with BBC Radio in Plymouth before moving to London as a sound technician. His television career, which started in 1936 as a boom operator at Alexandra Palace, was interrupted when he enlisted with the Royal Engineers during the Second World War. He returned to the BBC after the war as a television producer.
Having been invited to become head of programmes at the fledgling Independent Television, Bill introduced the popular Sunday Night at the London Palladium and was responsible for such other programmes as The Power Game, The Worker, and Emergency Ward 10 and for overseeing many international sports broadcasts, including the 1966 World Cup Final and two Olympic Games.
"It can't be true! Is that why you said don't drink!"
programme details...
- Edition No: 713
- Subject No: 709
- Broadcast date: Wed 10 Dec 1986
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Wed 12 Nov 1986
- Venue: Teddington Studios
- Series: 27
- Edition: 9
- Code name: Ten
on the guest list...
- Brian Tesler
- Harry Secombe
- Sandy - partner
- Mary - daughter
- David - son
- Martin - son
- Tim - son
- Julia - daughter-in-law
- Marilyn - daughter-in-law
- Eunesee Lampiaye - cousin
- Bill Cotton
- Tommy Trinder
- Jack Watling
- Charlie Drake
- Jill Browne
- Rosemary Miller
- Glyn Owen
- Richard Thorp
- Charles Tingwell
- Shaw Taylor
- Des O'Connor
- Raymond Joss
- John Bromley
- Yala Eusega
- Manolo Romero
- Tim O'Connor
- Victor Rocas
- Roger Philcox
- Max Bygraves
- The Tiller Girls
- Clare - granddaughter Filmed tributes:
- Anthony Newley
- Bob Hope
- Lord Grade
- Bruce Forsyth
- Tony Bennett
related appearances...
- ITV This Is Your Life - Sep 1976
- Harry Secombe - Mar 1990
production team...
- Researcher: Sue Green
- Writer: Roy Bottomley
- Directors: Terry Yarwood, Michael D Kent
- Associate Producer: Brian Klein
- Producer: Malcolm Morris
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
there's no business like it
A special edition celebrating ITV's 21st anniversary
Screenshots of Bill Ward This Is Your Life
Series 27 subjects
Bill Waddington | Robert Foote | Carl Davis | Gorden Kaye | Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr | Monty Fresco | Joe JohnsonSusan George | Bill Ward | Rachel Kempson | Gary Wilmot | Cliff Michelmore and Jean Metcalfe | Liz Hobbs | Jack Berg
Derek Scott | Patricia Hodge | Harry Friend | Norman Wisdom | Denis Compton | Christopher Cazenove | Dudley Moore
Terry Marsh | David Jacobs | William Rushton | Gabrielle Drake