Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Dick Francis, crime writer and former jockey, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while signing copies of his new book Knock Down in central London.

Dick, who was born in Pembrokeshire, became a full-time jump jockey after wartime service in the Royal Air Force. He won over 350 races and reached celebrity status in the world of British National Hunt racing, becoming champion jockey in the 1953-54 season.

After retiring from racing in 1957, he became the racing correspondent for the Sunday Express newspaper. He published his first novel, Dead Cert, in 1962 and, from then on, produced roughly a book a year, typically thrillers with plots centred around horse racing.

programme details...

• Edition No: 394
• Subject No: 394
• Broadcast date: Wed 18 Dec 1974
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Wed 13 Nov 1974
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 15
• Edition: 7
• Code name: Thriller

on the guest list...

• Mary - wife
• Merrick - son
• Felix - son
• Doug - brother
• Elaine - daughter-in-law
• Jocelyn - granddaughter
• George Owen
• Stan Mellor
• John Gale
• Tommy Cusack
• Martin Moloney
• Derek Ancil
• Tim Brookshaw
• George Slack
• Kingsley Amis
• Gavin Lyall
• Katharine Whtehorn
• Anthea Joseph
• Eric Ginger
• Roy Palmer
Filmed tribute:
• Gordon Richards

production team...

• Researcher: unknown
• Writer: unknown
• Director: Robert Reed
• Producer: Jack Crawshaw

A Novel Life

a page-turning good read

Equestrian Life

from racing to show jumping

Graham Lord recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Dick Francis A Racing Life...

In December Dick went up to London to sign copies of Knock Down and tapped on a prearranged door only for it to be opened by the beaming This Is Your Life TV presenter Eamonn Andrews, who declared in his ringing Irish tones 'Dick Francis, THIS IS YER LOIFE!' and Dick found himself under the eyes of the TV cameras and a host of his nearest and dearest - Merrick, Felix, Doug, Elaine and little Jocelyn as well as old friends and acquaintances from his RAF days and the racing world.

Dick glared at Andrews and brandished his autograph pen. 'I've a good mind to write this all over your bloody face!' he said before settling down to listen to the guests telling stories about him as Andrews read out snippets about his life, played a video-recorded tribute by Sir Gordon Richards, and introduced several jockeys and trainers: George Owen, Stan Mellor, John Gale, Tommy Cusack, Martin Moloney, Derek Ancil, Tim Brookshaw, George Slack.

Other guests - Kingsley Amis, Gavin Lyall, Katharine Whitehorn - said how much they enjoyed the books, Anthea Joseph claimed she had realised how good the first book was as soon as she read the first page, and Eric Ginger and Roy Palmer recalled their days in the RAF. It was a nostalgic evening and the ultimate TV accolade.

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

One of the most dramatic Grand Nationals of all time was featured on the Life on 13 November 1974.

It had happened eighteen years before. Jockey Dick Francis was in the lead, riding the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch, which collapsed just yards from the winning post.

It might have been a scene from one of Dick's subsequent best-selling thrillers. On the show, not only did Sir Gordon Richards pay his respects to a fellow pro but so too did fellow novelist Kingsley Amis, who said he had read every one of Dick's books.