Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Cyril Bertram MILLS (1902-1991)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Cyril Bertram Mills, circus owner, was surprised by Michael Aspel at the Circus Paulo tent in Teddington, having been led to believe he was there to watch a review of new circus talent.
Cyril, who was born in Edgware and educated at Harrow and Cambridge, was destined for a business career until his father unexpectedly established a circus at Olympia in London, which developed a reputation as the best in Europe. Cyril and his brother Bernard took over the running of the circus in 1933, travelling the world to seek out the best acts.
During the Second World War, Cyril, previously qualified as a pilot, flew reconnaissance missions for counter-espionage before returning to manage the circus at the war's end. Bertram Mills became a household name and the most famous circus attraction of all time, attracting royalty and television broadcasts and setting the benchmark for quality within the circus world.
"You're pulling my leg!"
programme details...
- Edition No: 751
- Subject No: 744
- Broadcast date: Wed 18 Jan 1989
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Wed 11 Jan 1989
- Venue: Teddington Studios
- Series: 29
- Edition: 14
- Code name: Ring
on the guest list...
- Mimi - wife
- Alan Hill
- Sir Edward Thompson
- Edward Campbell
- Christopher - son
- Col T A Robertson
- Maj Christopher Harmer
- Larry Turnbull
- Norman Barrett
- Raymond Baxter
- Brian Johnston
- Prof Arthur Saxon
- Rudy Horn
- Fredy Knie
- Elvin Bale
- 15 unnamed grandchildren Filmed tributes:
- Barrie Sloan
- Shelagh Sloan
- Billy Baker
- Kenny Dodd
- John Young
- Emmerick Moriskovski
- Gaynor Moriskovski
- Germaine Loyal
- Justino Loyal
- Arthur Grotefent
- Helen Wallenda
related appearances...
- Coco (Nicolai Poliakoff) - Jan 1962
- Norman Barrett - Oct 1990
production team...
- Researcher: Louise Clover
- Writer: Norman Giller
- Directors: Brian Klein, David Clark
- Producer: Malcolm Morris
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
Screenshots of Cyril Bertram Mills This Is Your Life
Series 29 subjects
Mickey Rooney | Phil Collins | Paul Daniels | Tom Finney | Esther Rantzen | Richard Todd | Engelbert HumperdinckBarry McGuigan | Robert Maxwell | Harry Corbett | Cliff Morgan | Roy Hudd | Claire Rayner | Cyril Bertram Mills
Dora Bryan | Margaret Hayles | Denis Healey | Gillian Lynne | Nigel Mansell | Su Pollard