This Is Your Life: Bob Holness

Bob HOLNESS (1928-2012)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Bob Holness, radio and television presenter, was surprised by Michael Aspel while interviewing him on his BBC Radio 2 programme at Broadcasting House in London.

Bob, who was born in South Africa, grew up in Kent and studied Art and Design at Maidstone School of Art before returning to South Africa to work for a printing company. He joined a repertory theatre company in Durban before beginning his broadcasting career as a radio presenter in 1954, becoming one of the country's most popular broadcasters within 5 years.

In 1961, after moving back to the UK, Bob hosted the ITV game show Take A Letter and was a newscaster and announcer for Granada Television. He joined BBC Radio at the launch of Radio 1 in 1967, before moving to independent radio, co-presenting the award-winning breakfast-time AM Programme on London's LBC station between 1975 and 1985. From 1983, he hosted the ITV quiz show Blockbusters, which made him a cult figure with the younger generation.

"You're joking! That is terrifying! How horrifying!"

programme details...

Edition No: 781
Subject No: 770
Broadcast date: Wed 4 Apr 1990
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Tue 27 Mar 1990
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 30
Edition: 24
Code name: Block

on the guest list...

Mary - wife
Carol - daughter
Ros - daughter
Jonathan - son
Ian Moffatt
Karen Davis
Henrietta Baldock
Graham Shaw
Max Lee
Oliver - grandson
Thomas - grandson
Don Narrows
Slim Gaillard
Gerald Sim
Douglas Cameron
Katie Boyle
Jonathan Shipman
Don Lusher
Henry MacKenzie
Jack Emblow
Kenny Baker
Acker Bilk
Kenny Ball
George Chisholm
Arthur - grandson
Jenny - sister
Bob - brother-in-law
unnamed relatives
Stephen Fry
Rula Lenska

production team...

Researchers: Mandy Nixon, Tom Wettengel
Writer: Norman Giller
Directors: Brian Klein, John Birkin
Associate Producer: John Graham
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Presenting Life

celebrating the hosts

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Kenny Ball

Acker Bilk

Katie Boyle

Screenshots of Bob Holness This Is Your Life

transdiffusion.org 12 November 2024

Why Bob Looks Forward To Having A P

Bob got a taste of his own medicine recently when Michael Aspel sprang the big red This Is Your Life book on him during a live radio interview. 'It was the biggest shock I've ever had,' he grins. 'I've known Mike for years, and there I was talking to him about his own career, asking him about the time Eamonn Andrews did it to him, and how he eventually took over from Eamonn. Never once did I get an inkling. Even when, at the end of our chat, he produced the book, I didn't believe it. I thought he was sending me up. It turned out to be one of the happiest occasions I can ever remember but it taught me one thing: never trust anyone ever again!'

Series 30 subjects