This Is Your Life: Diana Dors 2

Diana DORS (1931-1984)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Diana Dors, actress, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Royalty Theatre.

After establishing herself as a 'blonde bombshell' in various British light comedy films of the 1950s, Diana went on to prove herself as an dramatic actress with roles in films such as A Kid for Two Farthings and Yield to the Night.

She later showed a genuine talent as a character actress in various television roles and also appeared in cabaret, as well as gaining new popularity as a regular television chat-show guest.

Diana Dors was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions – previously surprised by Eamonn Andrews in April 1957 at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith.

"Oh Eamonn! You can't do this to me!"

programme details...

Edition No: 601
Subject No: second timer
Broadcast date: Wed 27 Oct 1982
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Tue 28 Sep 1982
Venue: Royalty Theatre
Series: 23
Edition: 2
Code name: Diamond

on the guest list...

Alan Lake - husband
Jason - son
Anne - aunt
Roger - cousin
Garry - cousin
Cyril - father-in-law
Vilma - sister-in-law
Ken - brother-in-law
Irene Sutcliffe
Peter Hearne
Margaret Stallard
John Wills
Cynthia Hicklin
Norman Wright
Jean Holness
Paul Chepasonie
Kathleen Cunningham
Pat Coombs
John Blythe
Megs Jenkins
Maurice Denham
Patrick Holt
Olive Dodds
Desmond Morris
Lionel Jeffries
Alfred Marks
Richard O'Sullivan
Gary - son
Mark - son
Cathy - daughter-in-law
Bob Hope
Liberace

production team...

Researcher: Tom Wettengel
Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Paul Stewart Laing, Terry Yarwood
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Diana Dors

first tribute

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

Timeline

the show's fifty year history

Screenshots of Diana Dors This Is Your Life

Joan Flory and Damien Walne recall this edition of This Is Your Life in their book, Only A Whisper Away...

In October 1982 Diana received the accolade of a second appearance on This Is Your Life. There were tributes from, among others, Bob Hope, Liberace and Richard O'Sullivan. Old friend Lionel Jeffries called her a "totally exclusive and brilliant actress."

A recorded message from America from her son was also a great joy to Diana.

"Hi, Mom," Mark greeted her, "I hope you're having a great night, and I hope you're recording it all for when you come out to California again."

Gary broke in, "It's three months since I saw you and Alan and Jason. I really miss you all and love you all. When I talked to you last it was great to hear you were back to your old self again. When you were taken ill you really gave us such a big scare. I've been thinking of all the things I kept meaning to put in all those letters I kept meaning to write!"

Diana smiled at that, but then her mouth opened wide, and she burst into tears when at the end of the show her two boys and Mark's wife Kathy walked onto the stage. It had been four years since she had seen Mark, and she was more than a little annoyed with him and with Kathy, because until her cancer operation they had not bothered to write or telephone. Diana was, of course, glad to find out that Mark was doing well with his rock band 'Midnight Eyes', and that Dickie's show 'Family Feud' was still top of the ratings, but the few days at Orchard Manor were not as cordial or indeed as 'easy' as she would have liked. Diana had to remind herself that Mark was a grown man, with his own life to lead.

David Bret recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Hurricane in Mink...

Between hospital appointments, Diana spent much of the next few months resting at home. Only her closest friends knew the exact nature of her illness, and a sterling effort was made to keep the news from Jason. So far as is known, Gary and Mark - and the public at large - first found out on 7 October, when she was interviewed at Orchard Manor by breakfast television's Nick Owen. Looking radiant in a pale-blue kaftan, and seated next to her fabulous swimming pool, she tried to respond to Owen's questions honestly, the smile rarely fading from her face. Her expression clouded over, however, when he asked, 'Are you scared of cancer?' It was an insensitive if not stupid question, but she gave Owen her reply, 'Of course I'm scared. But I shall fight it all the way. It's chosen the wrong person in choosing me!'

Such bravado when facing the toughest fight of her life could only be admired. Just one week later, Eamonn Andrews 'nabbed' Diana for her second This Is Your Life. This time there were tributes from Liberace, who knew about her illness, and Bob Hope, who did not. The one which thrilled her the most, however, was the satellite-link message from Mark - she had not seen her eldest son for four years - and Gary, who told her, 'When you were taken ill, you really gave us a big scare, Mom. I've been thinking of all the things I kept meaning to put in all those letters I kept meaning to write!' And in time-honoured This Is Your Life fashion, this was the programme's big surprise - for the boys were not in Los Angeles, but right there in the studio, along with Mark's wife, Cathy. Hugging them all as the credits rolled, Diana burst into tears.

Niema Ash recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in her book, Connecting Dors...

Several months after the operation she received a great honour. For the second time she was asked to appear on the popular television show This Is Your Life, featuring celebrities who are suddenly surprised with people from their past.

The previous time she had been on the show some twenty-five years earlier, Stewart Sawyer, the man who had ruined her Hollywood career had been flown in from California. On this occasion, Desmond Morris, the renowned zoologist and Diana's first love, who she hadn't seen since they were teenagers, made a surprise appearance.

There were tributes from friends including Bob Hope and Liberace. But the surprise of surprises climaxed the show. Thinking she was on the phone to Gary and Mark in Los Angeles, they suddenly appeared on the set. Diana couldn't hold back the tears.

Huw Prall recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Passport to Fame, The Diana Dors Story...

In October 1982 Diana received an unexpected surprise, when she was chosen as a subject for television's This Is Your Life for the second time. When she entered the darkened auditorium of the Royalty Theatre in London's Kingsway, her first words to presenter Eamonn Andrews, as he led her down the stairs to the stage to tumultuous applause, were "Oh Eamonn, Oh you can't do this to me again."

As always Diana was very humble about her success, and when a still was shown of her as Mildred in her first film The Shop at Sly Corner she retorted "oh how awful!", and when a clip from her second film Holiday Camp was shown, Eamonn said "you went on to make many more films" her reply was "I don't know why!"

Alan was of course seated beside her and other members of both their families were present. Son Jason sat beside his father and there was a recorded message from Mark, Gary and Mark's wife Kathy. Some film had been made outside Paramount Studios but due to technical problems only the sound was able to be played. Mark said "Hi Mom, I hope you're having a great night, and I hope you're recording it all for when you come out to California again." Gary continued "its three months since I saw you and Alan and Jason. I really miss you and love you all. When I talked to you last it was great to hear you were back to your old self again. When you were taken ill you really gave us such a big scare. I've been thinking of all the things I kept meaning to put in all those letters I kept meaning to write." A small piece of film followed with Mark, Gary and Kathy waving goodbye. Diana wiped back the tears.

She was soon full of happiness again as members of the 1946 London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art class appeared on stage finishing with comedy actress Pat Coombs who said "Ere Di do you remember at LAMDA" to which she replied "I never forget! You were the comedienne and I was the bad girl." Memories of her Rank School days came flooding back with those she had worked with arriving. John Blythe from the Huggetts films and A Boy a Girl and a Bike, followed by Megs Jenkins and Maurice Denham who had both featured in the latter, along with Patrick Holt who had also played her husband in Miss Tulip stays the Night. Finally there was Olive Dodds who had run the charm school, and who Diana had not seen for twenty two years.

There was also Dr Desmond Morris from her Swindon days who thanked her for the pin up pictures she had sent him when he was a young subaltern, and close friend and fellow actor Lionel Jeffries who had directed her in the film The Amazing Mr Blunden. Talking about her performance in this he said "She received national and international acclaim for that performance as she proved once more as she's always doing, what a marvellous exclusive actress she is. She's not just a good actress, she's a totally exclusive and brilliant actress, and I love her very much."

Comedy legend Bob Hope re-iterated this thought saying "I love you a lot, and these days there's quite a lot more of you to love. In fact you're the only bit of the British Film industry that's expanded!" Fellow actor Alfred Marks, who had appeared with her in Oedipus at Chichester, said of the production "this was probably the biggest tragedy in Greek theatre and we had more laughs on that than any comedy I've ever done in my life." Diana replied with a beaming smile "thanks to you!"

World famous entertainer Liberace was also full of praise for her saying "I have such fond memories of you Diana when you first came to California, back in the days when we were both sex symbols" and went on to recall the wonderful memories of those times concluding with "I am so proud of the fact that you have become such an accomplished actress." The biggest surprise of the evening was saved until the actual appearance of Mark and Gary along with Mark's wife Kathy. Diana quite naturally broke down in tears.

Anna Cale recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in her book, The Real Diana Dors...

That year, she also appeared on This Is Your Life for a second time, almost thirty years since her first appearance on the show. This time, Eamonn Andrews introduced her by saying she had had 'a life that's had more cliffhanging moments than the plot of any movie'.

Series 23 subjects