This Is Your Life: Frankie Vaughan 2

Frankie VAUGHAN OBE, DL (1928-1999)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Frankie Vaughan, singer and actor, was surprised by Michael Aspel during a photocall for the charity Active Hearts at a London sports centre.

Frankie's career began in the late 1940s performing song and dance routines. He later achieved success on both sides of the Atlantic as a recording artist with such hits as Green Door and The Garden of Eden.

Frankie appeared in several films, including the Hollywood production Let's Make Love, which starred Marilyn Monroe. But it was his cabaret performances with his tuxedo, top hat and cane for which he became best known, and he was dubbed 'Mr Moonlight' after one of his hits.

Frankie Vaughan was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions – previously surprised by Eamonn Andrews in April 1970 at the Caesar's Palace nightclub in Luton.

"I thought you were a friend of mine!"

programme details...

Edition No: 877
Subject No: second timer
Broadcast date: Wed 30 Mar 1994
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Thu 9 Dec 1993
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 34
Edition: 11
Code name: Light

on the guest list...

Stella - wife
Joyce - sister-in-law
Linda - sister-in-law
Pamela - sister-in-law
Myra - sister
Carol - sister
Phyllis - sister
Kirt - brother-in-law
Richard - nephew
Susan - daughter
David - son-in-law
Andrew - son
Shani Wallis
Bert Weedon
Carol Young
Sheila Wragg
Shan Sangster
David Lodge
Neville Goodridge
letter from the Duke of Gloucester
Ernie Wise
Stephen Westaby
Nathalie - granddaughter
Jimmy Tarbuck
Anthony Newley
Lily - granddaughter
James - grandson

production team...

Researcher: Sue Green
Writer: Chris Greenwood
Director: Brian Klein
Associate Producer: John Graham
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Frankie Vaughan

first tribute

A Song For Life

it's the singer not the song

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

This Is Your Life

The Daily Mail profiles the programme's history

Ernie Wise

Screenshots of Frankie Vaughan This Is Your Life

Joseph Lynch recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Frankie Vaughan, The Man and his Music...

Frank was the subject of This Is Your Life with Michael Aspel, who was also presenter of Antiques Roadshow. Michael had taken over presenting This Is Your Life after the death of long time presenter, Eamonn Andrews in 1987.

Frank was recovering from his first aneurysm and hoping to regain his strength and fitness by using the gymnasium. He was taken completely by surprise when in walked Michael Aspel with the Red Book.

Knowing that the tribute was to Frank, when asked, a number of celebrities were very pleased to appear. Jimmy Tarbuck spoke of how Frank had shown him how to fish. Jimmy was quick to tell everyone that he caught a large trout, but Frank decided to take it home, even had the cheek to cook it and eat it himself.

In addition, Ernie Wise made everyone laugh. Morecambe and Wise usually tried to play tricks on their guests and Frank was no exception, but Frank turned the table on them. He arranged for a solicitor to send them a letter saying that he, Frank, intended to sue them for defamation of character, and ruining his career. Ernie asked his forgiveness, and told Frank to keep making the 78rpm records.

The surgeon, Stephen Westaby also appeared, and spoke of the time when he carried out Frank's operation. He said some of his nurses had looked under the sheet whilst Frank was under sedation. Frank pretended to be shocked and replied that he would not appear in his theatre again! Frank then became very serious and told Stephen Westaby and the audience he could never repay the surgeon for saving his life. Mr Westaby said that Frank had shown great calmness through the whole ordeal. Maybe it was down to all the years of appearing on stage.

A big surprise was in store for Frank and it was a very happy moment for him when Nathalie, Stella and Frank's granddaughter came walking onto the stage. She had travelled from Leeds University to be with her grandfather for this special tribute to him.

The Kaye Sisters were also on the show, as they had made a record with Frank called "Got to have something in the bank, Frank". It sold two hundred and fifty thousand copies. Frank donated all his royalties from this record to the Boys' Clubs. When the Kaye Sisters heard about this, they agreed to donate their percentage of the royalties to the same cause as they and Frank had been friends for a good number of years. Although they were called 'sisters' the Kaye Sisters were not actually related but were three young friends. They were actually Carol Lindsey Young, Shirley Palmer and Sheila Jones.

Series 34 subjects