Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Charlie Williams, comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while performing at the Batley Variety Club, from where the show was then broadcast.

Charlie, who was born in Barnsley, left school at 14 and started his working life at Upton Colliery. Having played football for the colliery team, he left the job in 1948 to become a professional footballer and was signed by Doncaster Rovers. As one of the first post-war black players in British football, Charlie made 151 appearances with Doncaster before ending his career with Skegness Town in 1959.

Following his retirement from football, Charlie tried his hand as a singer in local working men's clubs. However, discovering that his comic chat between the songs was better received, he decided to move into comedy full-time. His regular appearances on ITV's The Comedians made him a household name and established him as Britain's first well-known black television comedian.

programme details...

• Edition No: 320
• Subject No: 321
• Broadcast live: Wed 2 Feb 1972
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Venue: Batley Variety Club
• Series: 12
• Edition: 12

on the guest list...

• Audrey - wife
• Victoria - aunt
• Dennis Bedford
• Ralph Bedford
• George Bedford
• Alvin Cook - half brother
• Doris Cook - sister
• Jimmy Walker
• John Charles
• Jackie Charlton
• Alick Jeffrey
• Fred Trueman
• Ken Goodwin - live link
• George Roper
• Colin Crompton
• Duggie Brown
• Steve Faye
• Frank Carson
• Johnnie Hamp
Filmed tributes:
• Leonard Parkin
• Beverley - daughter
• Melford - son

related appearances...

• James Corrigan - Feb 1973
• Frank Carson - Feb 1985
• Bernard Manning - Nov 1991
• Jimmy Hill - Mar 1995

production team...

• Researcher: unknown
• Writer: unknown
• Director: Margery Baker
• Producer: Malcolm Morris

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

It's a Funny Old Life

it's all about the comedy

The Big Red Book

the programme's icon

Frank Carson

Jackie Charlton

Johnnie Hamp

Fred Trueman

Photographs of Charlie Williams This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Charlie Williams's big red book

Charlie Williams recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his book, Charlie, The Charlie Williams Story...

I got the fright of my life when Eamonn Andrews said, 'Charlie Williams - this is your life!'

That's me with the spear.

The rest of the folks, from the left, are: Duggie Brown, my cousin Dennis Bedford, Freddie Trueman, cousins Ralph and George Bedford, Frank Carson, my wife Audrey, Eamonn Andrews, Steve Faye, Johnnie Hamp, producer of The Comedians, and George Roper.

Barnsley Chronicle February 1972

CHARLIE'S LIFE

CHARLIE WILLIAMS was the subject of the television programme, This Is Your Life on Wednesday.

Screened from the Batley Variety Club where he was appearing, Charlie was linked by television with an old friend Leonard Parkin – a familiar face from the "News at Ten" programme. Charlie and Len lived in Harewood Lane, Upton, as children.

At the club to greet Charlie were his wife, relatives, Alick Jeffrey, Freddie Trueman, Jackie Charlton and John Charles from the world of sport, and fellow comedians.

The Stage 10 February 1972

Nelson Firth's record-breaking pantomime at the Lancastrian Hall Theatre, Swinton, went up 15 minutes late the other Wednesday evening – but the audience didn't mind – in fact they had a bonus.

It was the panto star's, Charlie Williams' This Is Your Life, and theatre manager, David H Robinson, had arranged together with Granada TV for a large colour set on stage for the audience's enjoyment.

Behind tabs was a further set for the company and one in Charlie's dressing room.