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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Cheryl Baker, singer and television presenter, was surprised by Michael Aspel during a pink champagne party onboard the Flamant Rose in London's St Katharine's Dock to celebrate the end of her latest television series.

Cheryl, who was born Rita Crudgington in Bethnal Green, London, worked as a secretary after leaving school before joining the band Co-Co as a singer. The band represented the UK in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, ending in 11th place. They tried again for Eurovision, under the new name The Main Event, but were placed last in the A Song For Europe heats.

Cheryl was then invited to join a new band, Bucks Fizz, who in 1981 won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Making Your Mind Up and were catapulted into overnight stardom. The band had 11 top 20 hit singles, including three number ones between 1981 and 1988. Combining her singing career with television presenting, Cheryl joined the BBC's children's show, Record Breakers, as co-host in 1987.

"I've prayed for you every night for the past ten years! I'm so happy!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 985
• Subject No: 960
• Broadcast date: Mon 17 Nov 1997
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Fri 14 Nov 1997
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 38
• Edition: 12
• Code name: Bread

on the guest list...

• Linda Nolan
• Mike Osman
• Kriss Akabusi
• Jill Shirley
• Colin Gay
• Sandy Durham
• Steve Stroud - husband
• Doll - mother
• Ted - father
• Sheila - sister
• Eddie - brother
• Gary - brother
• Colin - brother
• Leona - sister-in-law
• Michael - nephew
• Sharon Kelly
• friends from primary school
• Mike Read
• Mike Nolan
• Tom Marshall
• Anthony Strong
• Anna Karen
• Tessa Sanderson
• Sam Abdalla
• Marie Wren
• Peter Purves
• Eddie Kidd
• Gareth Hale
• Norman Pace
• Kyla - daughter
• Natalie - daughter
Filmed tributes:
• Gary Rhodes
• Joe Pasquale
• Cliff Richard
• Fiona Castle

related appearances...

• Russell Grant - Feb 1985
• Gary Wilmot - Dec 1986
• Gary Rhodes - Sep 1996
• Sharron Davies - Sep 1998
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000

production team...

• Researcher: Jo Grant
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Directors: John Gorman, Steve Docherty
• Associate Producer: Liz Rawlings
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

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

Top of the Pops

charting the pop stars

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Gary Rhodes

Tessa Sanderson

Screenshots of Cheryl Baker This Is Your Life