27 April 1977 - 8.00-9.00pm

The statesman and naval officer - and first member of the British Royal family to feature as the subject - was surprised by Eamonn in the foyer of Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. The programme - the first ever hour long edition, and the first to include a commerical break - includes tributes from Vera Lynn, Bob Hope and John Mills.

25 December 1978 - 10.15-11.00pm

In a lively and popular extended edition - broadcast on Christmas Day - the three times world heavyweight boxing champion was surprised by Eamonn as he arrived at the New London Theatre.
Ali's show proves to be a real ratings winner, and includes tributes from boxers Henry Cooper, Joe Frazier and Joe Louis.

25 December 1979 - 9.45-10.30pm

The popular comedy actor and writer was treated to the programme's second specially extended Christmas Day edition, when he was surprised by Eamonn at the New London Theatre. Eric – seated unusually on stage left due to his deafness – enjoyed a lively show which included comedy greats Frankie Howerd, Spike Milligan and Tommy Cooper.

31 December 1981 - 11.00-11.45pm

The highly successful record producer - responsible at the time for such recording artists as Donovan and Suzi Quatro - was surprised by Eamonn at BBC Broadcasting House. In an extended edition Mickie was joined by his colleagues from the television talent show New Faces, including Marti Caine, while other tributes came from Lulu, Little Richard and Peter Cook.

31 March 1982 - 8.00-9.00pm

Eamonn surprised the Second World War Royal Air Force flying ace - for an end of series extended edition - during a reception at New Zealand House in London.
Fellow RAF pilots Johnnie Johnson and Robert Stanford Tuck pay tribute, while Eamonn reads a message from HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

13 April 1983 - 8.00-9.00pm

'Tarby' was honoured with a rare hour long special edition when he was surprised by Eamonn while fronting his successful television variety show, Live From Her Majesty's. A mixture of top sporting and entertainment names pay tribute to television's funny man, including singer Tom Jones, boxer Henry Cooper, golfer Tony Jacklin, entertainer Max Bygraves.

26 October 1983 - 8.00-9.00pm

An extended edition opens series 24 when Eamonn surprises the popular and much loved actor - for his second tribute - at the curtain call of the play Little Lies on the stage of the Wyndham's Theatre in London.
Joining the Mills dynasty to celebrate John's achievements and pay tribute are fellow actors Richard Attenborough, Harry Andrews and Stewart Granger.

27 December 1983 - 7.00-7.45pm

A heart warming story was revealed for a Christmas audience when Eamonn - interrupting a Calypso concert - surprised the charity worker at the West Indian Parent Family Centre in Brixton, London.
Gloria - also a Justice of the Peace and an actress - was greeted via a live link by her son - a musician with the pop group, Hot Chocolate.

18 April 1984 - 8.00-9.00pm

Series 24 ends with an extended edition, when Eamonn surprised the popular entertainer on stage during a curtain call of the musical Hello, Dolly! at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.
A host of top names from show business pay tribute - including actors Barbara Windsor, Donald Sinden and Anna Neagle, and singer Frankie Vaughan.

19 December 1984 - 8.00-9.00pm

In the This Is Your Life team's first visit to Hollywood, the popular star of numerous musicals produced by 20th Century Fox was surprised by Eamonn at the Metromedia Studios on Sunset Boulevard.
In an hour long show Alice received tributes from many of her former co-stars, including Rudy Vallee, Ginger Rogers, Don Ameche and Ruby Keeler.

26 December 1984 - 6.00-6.45pm

In the second of three consecutive extended editions, Eamonn surprised the talented actress and singer during an interview on comedian Jimmy Tarbuck's television show.
Among the names paying tribute to Millicent are Hollywood star Howard Keel and fellow musical theatre stars, Julia McKenzie and David Kernan.

1 January 1985 - 8.30-9.15pm

The actor and theatre manager was surprised by Eamonn during a performance of his famous monologues. Only the second actor - after Olivier - to be granted a life peerage, Bernard was manager of London's Mermaid Theatre.
His guests include film director John Huston and opera singer Dame Eva Turner.

1 May 1985 - 8.00-9.00pm

Eamonn surprised the actor on location in Surrey, interrupting filming of an episode of the popular ITV situation comedy Never The Twain. Helping Eamonn spring the surprise is the actor's co-star from the series, Windsor Davies. Donald's guest list is crammed with theatrical greats, including Joyce Carey, Judi Dench, Anna Neagle and Sir Peter Hall.

8 May 1985 - 8.00-9.00pm

An end of series special - broadcast on the 40th anniversary of VE Day - sees Eamonn surprise Johnnie - the RAF's most outstanding fighter pilot of the Second World War - in London's Trafalgar Square.
Johnnie is treated to a flavour of wartime entertainment from Anne Shelton and the Herb Miller Orchestra.

26 December 1985 - 6.30-7.15pm

In a special Boxing Day edition of This Is Your Life, Joyce - currently celebrating 70 years in the business - is surprised by Eamonn at London's Waldorf Hotel.
Among those paying tribute to the actress - best known for her long professional and personal relationship with Noel Coward - are actors Deborah Kerr, Peter O'Toole and Rex Harrison.

31 December 1986 - 8.00-9.00pm

The husband-and-wife broadcasters - who met while presenting the wartime BBC radio programme Forces Favourites - were surprised by Eamonn at BBC Broadcasting House.
In an hour-long New Year's Eve special, the couple is reunited with guests such as singers The Beverley Sisters and Vera Lynn and musician Acker Bilk.

7 May 1990 - 8.30-9.30pm

In what was billed as the 500th 'Life' produced by Thames Television, and broadcast as an hour-long bank holiday special, Michael surprised the man from Knotty Ash at the London Palladium.
Ken's tribute includes a song and dance with his Diddy Men, and tributes from singer Vince Hill, entertainer Danny La Rue and actor and writer Eric Sykes.

26 December 1990 - 6.45-7.30pm

A Boxing Day special pays tribute to the surviving member of one of Britain's top double acts - surprised by Michael at Thames Television's Teddington Studios.
A number of former Morecambe and Wise guest stars pay tribute, including singer Shirley Bassey, and actors Glenda Jackson and Peter Cushing, while Michael reads out a message from Hollywood legend Gene Kelly.

2 November 1994 - 7.30-8.15pm

For the first This Is Your Life to be broadcast on BBC television since 1964, the team presented a special edition for the musical theatre composer's second tribute, complete with live performances of songs from several of his musicals.
Michael surprised him at London's Aldelphi Theatre, the then home of his latest success, Sunset Boulevard.

28 December 1994 - 7.00-7.45pm

Michael interrupted the actor and raconteur during lunch - at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva - and surprised him before flying back to London for the show's recording.
This Christmas special, Peter's second tribute, includes actress Jean Simmons, former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and King Hussein of Jordan.

27 December 1995 - 7.20-8.00pm

The British born entertainer was treated to a second tribute - this time a joint one with his wife, when Michael surprised the couple at Hollywood's CBS studios. The show - an extended edition broadcast over Christmas, includes tributes from actress Jane Russell, former US President Gerald Ford, impresario Lord Grade and comedian Bob Monkhouse.

30 December 1996 - 6.50-7.30pm

Michael surprises the much loved actress - for her second tribute - on location in Yorkshire, while filming for the BBC television comedy series Last of the Summer Wine. Thora - regarded by many as a national treasure - is greeted by comedienne Victoria Wood and actress Kathy Staff, and the Salvation Army band close this extended edition of the show.

For a specially extended Christmas broadcast, Michael called in to Coronation Street to surprise Anne - who has played the character of Deirdre since 1972.
A popular, emotional edition sees Anne greeted by, among others, Matthew Kelly, and reunited with her first Street husband Ray Langton, when actor Neville Buswell flew in from the USA to pay his tribute.

23 April 2003 - 8.00-9.00pm

Michael surprised the comedian, for his second tribute, at the BBC Television Centre for a mid-series extended edition of the show.
Such is the breadth of Bob's story two Big Red Books are needed, the second one delivered midway through the show by comedian Joe Pasquale. Other guests include actress June Whitfield and comedian Bob Hope.