Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Charlie CHESTER (1914-1997)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Charlie Chester, comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews outside the BBC Television Centre as he left the building following a rehearsal.
Charlie, who was born Cecil Victor Manser in Eastbourne, entered talent contests and sang in local clubs while working as a gas fitter's mate in Clapham, London. During the Second World War, having enlisted with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, he joined Stars in Battledress, an organisation of entertainers who travelled the country entertaining the troops.
Known as 'Cheerful' Charlie Chester, he made his name on the BBC radio show Stand Easy, which, as The Charlie Chester Show, was adapted as a stand-up and sketch show for television in 1949 and ran for 11 years. His other radio shows included A Proper Charlie, Come to Charlie and Keep Smiling.
programme details...
on the guest list...
related appearances...
production team...
But when it comes to shocks I think that television must take full credit, for this gave me one of the greatest shocks I can remember, and anyone who tells you that it's all pre-arranged, just doesn't know. When Eamonn Andrews confronted me and said: "Charlie Chester, this is your life!" I went cold.
I had been at rehearsals all day at the Television Centre, and I had introduced a routine to Lionel Blair for his dancers. It was a routine of playing the spoons, not just clicking them, but a set routine which looked most effective. Learning the spoons, however, tends to give newcomers sore hands and bruises on their legs with the constant banging. The girls were very good though and practised ardently and were fast becoming very competent. It was a complete novelty for them anyway, and any break in the hard dance routine was a welcome change. One girl, however, unknown to me, had been primed to be a bit dumb. She kept coming to me saying that she couldn't get one particular rhythmic movement. With patience I kept showing her, and I must confess that she acted her part very well.
Albert Stevenson the producer said we would knock off around six o'clock. At ten to six, however, I was asked if I would call in on Eric Maschwitz before I left. I did so, and after being with him for a while, I began to wonder why he had called me in, because he never said anything of importance. We chatted about the show and this and that, and I saw him go to the window and blow his nose. It never occurred to me then that he was giving a signal to someone.
The actors, like Felix Aylmer and hosts of others had all been asked to sit in the reception hall until that moment and then, as we came down in the lift, they would all make for the doors. This meant that we had to fall in behind all these famous names and follow them out.
I didn't even see the taxi from which the film was being taken, neither did I hear Eamonn saying: "Among these actors and actresses, there is one man who will be coming out through that door in a moment having been rehearsing with his show."
The Head of Light Entertainment, Eric Maschwitz, and I walked out together and within a few paces I saw Eamonn, lurking behind one of the great pillars.
I shouted to him. "Hi there Eammon. Working?"
He said: "Yes, on you... this is your life."
Eric laughed and walked a few steps away and I remember shouting good naturedly: "Eric, you bastard!"
After the initial shock, I was more or less incommunicado until the show. It was a moving experience and a very upsetting one for me. What I didn't know at the time was that my wife, Dorita, knew, but being a pro she wouldn't have spoilt it for anything. She never breathed a word to me. I do remember I was going to rehearsals that day in some old clothing and she said: "If you're rehearsing at TV Centre you should at least put a decent suit on."
My wife has always been fanatical about looking smart and having clean underclothes daily. If I wear a shirt for an hour, it's soiled, and she suggests that I change it. Both she and my son Peter kept the secret between them and when Peter went to play at some function in the evening, she made him wear his dress suit, thinking that he would be called, the same as herself.
They never were.
Something went wrong. I don't know what, but they, by-passed her and my boy completely. They weren't invited, and after the show I rang home to Dorita who was quite put out about the whole thing. How, or why this happened I don't know, but it spoiled what was, a memorable occasion.
Series 6 subjects
Leonard Cheshire | George Bennett | David Sheppard | Sybil Thorndike | Clarence Wolfe | Charles Coward | T E B Clarke