Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - David Dickinson, antiques expert and television presenter, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming a special Children in Need edition of the television programme Bargain Hunt at Hogben's auction house in Folkstone.

David, who was born in Cheshire, was a Barnado's boy as an infant after being given up for adoption. He began his working life as an engineering apprentice at an aircraft factory but gave that up to work in the garment industry in central Manchester.

After marrying cabaret performer Lorne Lesley in 1968, David combined working as her manager with trading antiques at major fairs while building a reputation as a dealer to the rich and famous. A chance meeting in 1998 with a television executive led to several television appearances and his big break in March 2000 when he was offered the opportunity to present the BBC's new daytime show Bargain Hunt.

"You've gotta be joking! It's a bobby dazzler! Unbelievable!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1106
• Subject No: 1082
• Broadcast date: Thu 2 Jan 2003
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Thu 14 Nov 2002 11.00pm
• Venue: BBC Television Centre
• Series: 43
• Edition: 1
• Code name: Trove

on the guest list...

• Lorne - wife
• Robbie - son
• Katrina - daughter
• Aimee - granddaughter
• Lauren - granddaughter
• students from the London School of Economics
• Chris Moyles
• James Braxton
• Philip Serrell
• Michael Hogben
• Mary Hayward - aunt
• Caroline Taylor - cousin
• Debbie Hall - cousin
• Marie - aunt
• Ken Moss - brother
• Sue Moss - sister-in-law
• Trish Blakeley
• Chris Nicolaou
• Tony Williams
• Peter Stringfellow
• Tim Wonnacott
Filmed tributes:
• Alistair Much
• Carol Vorderman
• Richard Whiteley

production team...

• Researcher: Kate Greer
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

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

Life As We Know It

highlighting the experts

Carol Vorderman

Richard Whiteley

Screenshots of David Dickinson This Is Your Life

David Dickinson recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, The Duke, What a Bobby Dazzler...

It had been a thrilling period, but on a day-to-day level I do try to keep the old size elevens on the floor. This is not easy, when you are told, 'David Dickinson – This Is Your Life!'

That week I had been hosting a series of celebrity charity auctions with some fabulous guests to raise money for Children in Need. The last night took place in Folkstone. The show wrapped at eight-thirty in the evening and as soon as the live transmission finished they asked if I would make an announcement, which would be a recorded piece of film, to be used the next day in London at the BBC studios for a finale for Children in Need. I wasn't aware that this was just a bit of kidology – a ploy to hold me in position with the cameras while a certain person walked out with that red book.

Believe you me, I had no idea whatsoever. They had contacted Lorne several weeks before (she told me after the show) and spoken with her. She in turn mentioned people I had known, relatives and so on, and surreptitiously they gathered all these people together. Even on the day that I was approached by Michael Aspel with the red book I still had no idea. Sometimes Lorne travels with me while I film around the country and we had been together in Folkstone. A few weeks before, she had done a photo shoot for one of the national newspapers and she informed me that she had been offered another one of these shoots, so had to go to London that afternoon while I was working in Folkstone on the Children in Need auction. I was due to follow on afterwards in order to be in London the next morning for a live transmission.

I said, 'See you later,' and with a smile and a wave, off Lorne went.

At half past eight, as I was standing in the auction room making my little announcement, out of nowhere popped Michael Aspel with the old red book.

He tapped me on the shoulder and announced, 'I've got this book which I can offer you at a very reasonable price. It's a first edition of David Dickinson – This Is Your Life.'

Well, blow me down with a feather. It completely took me by surprise. I know they all say that, but it really did. Michael was everything you would expect him to be, a consummate professional and an absolute gentleman. I was whisked up to London to BBC Television Centre in a limousine. It was extraordinary to walk into the studios and to find them packed at such a late hour. It was like a cross-section of my entire life to date. Out there was the studio audience and this side of the limelights were friends and family. I didn't think I deserved it.

I even told the series producer, Jack Crawshaw, and the producer, Sue Green, 'There are many more people more deserving of this honour than I. There are lifeboat coxswains and people who clear landmines.'

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Jack and Sue, two wonderful people, made me feel so relaxed and were part and parcel of that memorable night, one I will never forget. After the show we had a party in an upstairs suite which eventually wound down in the early hours. You have to pinch yourself when something like that happens – but it's been an absolutely phenomenal year.

When you think of being presented with that big red book, of being told 'This is your life', in many ways you think it's all over. You've done it all, and this is the summing-up. But it's not all over. It's only the start. Believe you me – you ain't seen nothing yet, kid!

An extract from the David Dickinson website...

This is Your Life - David Dickinson

"It was such a tremendous thrill and a genuine surprise when Michael Aspel popped up at the end of a special Children in Need live transmission of Bargain Hunt in 2002."

"While we were still on camera Michael appeared with the old red book and said 'I've got this book which I can offer you at a very reasonable price. It's a first edition of David Dickinson This is your Life.'"

"It was an amazing experience, and I felt deeply honoured. I was driven straight way to London to record the show, I walked into the studio to find it packed with family and friends. That's an evening I never will forget."

On 14 November 2002 David Dickinson was in Folkestone, hosting a live edition of Bargain Hunt in aid of Children In Need. As David brought the show to a close out from behind the scenes came Michael Aspel, the big red book underneath his arm, and tapping David on the shoulder he announced "I've got this book which I can offer you at a very reasonable price. It's a first edition of David Dickinson This is Your Life". David was visibly taken aback, almost lost for words, everyone at the auction was ecstatic. And so began an unforgettable evening of tributes, surprises, memories and high emotion for The Duke.

David was quickly spirited away to BBC Television Centre where, waiting for him, were his invited audience of family and friends. Experts from the live show followed from Folkestone in hot pursuit to be there in time for the filming. The show was all done in one take and David delighted everyone with his sincerity, warmth and affection. As we were still gathered around David on stage at the end of the show, Michael Aspel invited us all back to the hospitality room to the after show party.

Lorne was the perfect hostess, welcoming everyone and making effortless introductions. Hot and cold food were available as well as every kind of beverage in plentiful supply. Some needed less encouragement than others to partake!

Chris Moyles and his trusty band of Comedy Dave and Will Kinder made a welcome addition to the gathering. They certainly know how to party and have a good time. Chris is a really amicable character and much more accessible than his Radio persona implies. In many ways he is wasted on Radio as he has some great (intentionally) comic faces. He is a true fan of Bargain Hunt and all three of the Radio One team clearly enjoyed talking with the experts present.

The three Bargain Hunt experts, who were fresh from the live filming at Hogben's auction house all enjoyed themselves thoroughly and were happy to mingle. Philip Serrell who is now a tee totaller was certainly no party pooper and stayed up chatting to the early hours while James Braxton was one of the very last to say good night.

This Is Your Life came in the middle of a hectic schedule for David and the Bargain Hunt team. David had completed a week of hour long live shows in the daytime the previous week, directly followed by four nights of celebrity live auctions, and being collared by Michael Aspel on the last one of these. David would then go on to do live links for the Children in Need Appeal the next night and commence a full schedule of promotions for his video "Cheap as Chips" the following week.

Despite this heavy work load, David really relished the evening and made time to speak to everyone present at the party and to thank them each personally for coming. And Lorne did a marvellous job supporting David and making sure he made the most of his night. Her intrinsic star quality shone through, and neither of them looked the least bit jaded as the early hours drew on.

There were many members of David's family at the party and all were a pleasure to meet. It was a memorable moment standing right next to Robbie Dickinson who was good heartedly joking about his appearance on the show. And it was almost surreal to see David watching himself on TV! Two of David's relations who also featured, Debbie Hall and Caroline Taylor, promised further information about David's childhood as material for the site so keep an eye in for that appearing here soon. Fans already know that David was adopted as a baby but no one could fail to be moved by the story of his reunion with his half brother Ken Moss. Ken and his wife Sue made the journey from Jersey to participate in the show and really enjoyed the party afterwards.

There was a great atmosphere at the party and it was a chance to meet key players in David's dual careers as television presenter and antiques dealer as well as his family and friends. It was very interesting to meet with Rosemary Kingland the co-author of David's first book 'The Antique Buyer' and I was delighted to hear that she loved The David Dickinson Site. The word is that she may be chosen to write David's autobiography in the near future. Also present was Conrad Withey the man behind David's first video 'Cheap as Chips'. He shared with me how the idea for the video came to him when he heard David on Scott Mill's Radio One show on Christmas Day 2001. The venture has proved a huge success for all concerned.

Chris Nicolaou has hitherto been a man of mystery! He is the tailor who has been making David's suits for the last forty years but his identity has been made something of a secret by David. David has been asked in numerous interviews to reveal the name of his tailor but he has always withheld it. He has always said it was because he feared his tailor would be so inundated with requests for his services that he wouldn't find time to make David's suits anymore. However Mr Chris Nicolaou is quite happy for everyone to know that he makes David's suits. Chris told me how he had made the luxurious dinner suit David wore to receive The National Television Award. David had chosen a certain material to enhance the lapels and pockets etc and had changed his mind after the suit had been made up. Chris had worked practically through the night to make the alterations and have the suit ready in time for the awards ceremony. But he was quite philosophical about his devotion to his work, "I work hard. I take a pride in my work, it is my passion, so naturally I am a perfectionist".

Being chosen as the subject of This Is Your Life is indeed a great honour, I felt privileged to be there to share the night with David and Lorne. It may have been David's This Is Your Life tribute night but as fellow guest Reg Smith remarked 'it was an unforgettable evening that David and all of us present will always remember.' We all know that there is a lot more to come from Mr Dickinson, The Duke. Long may he reign. Join me in wishing him good luck, good health and every future success.

SOME WORDS OF THANKS

We would like to thank all the staff involved in the production of the show. Especially the research team headed by Kate Greer, Producer Sue Green, and Associate Producer Helen Gordon-Smith, for inviting us to the filming and making the evening so enjoyable and for giving us at David Dickinson's site so much help and information and keeping us informed throughout the making of the show and afterwards.