This Is Your Life: George Sewell

George SEWELL (1924-2007)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - George Sewell, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while filming a scene for the ITV police drama series Special Branch in central London.

George, who was born in Hoxton, London, spent 20 years as a jack of all trades before considering a career in acting. He trained as a printer's apprentice, worked as a demolition expert, a street photographer, and a part-time drummer, and even assisted a French roller-skating team. He also trained as a Royal Air Force pilot and spent time in the Merchant Navy.

After successfully auditioning for Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop at the age of 35, George made his acting debut as a policeman in the musical Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, which played at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, before transferring to London's West End. He later appeared in film and on television, including ITV's Special Branch, in a role which made him a household name.

"I don't believe it! You knew as well - all you lot? That is a knockout!"

programme details...

Edition No: 365
Subject No: 366
Broadcast date: Wed 19 Dec 1973
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Wed 17 Oct 1973
Venue: Euston Road Studios
Series: 14
Edition: 5

on the guest list...

Helen - wife
Alain - stepson
Elizabeth - daughter
Patrick Mower
Dolores Mantez
Gabrielle Drake
Hettie - mother
George - father
Danny - brother
Jackie Pallo
Edmundo Ros
Bernie Winters
Mike Winters
Johnny Cazaar
Dudley Sutton
Keith Newman
Tony Brand
Jimmy Compton
Terry Mullins
Dutch Cage
Gordon Lewis
Barbara Windsor
Yootha Joyce
Glynn Edwards
Paddy Joyce
Edward Caddick
Toni Palmer
Tom Chatto
Michael O'Brien

production team...

Researchers: Vincent Stafford, Sarah Wanwaring-White
Writer: Martin Robertson
Director: Peter Webb
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Mike and Bernie Winters

Screenshots of George Sewell This Is Your Life

Producer Malcolm Morris recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is My Life...

The programme continued to ride the ratings with millions watching it each week and because of the high ratings the promotional value to agents, film companies and publishing houses was enormous.

If we feature an actor appearing in a theatrical run, the ticket sales rose after we had gone on air.

George Sewell was having a very successful run in the series called Special Branch and as he had such a good life story, we decided it was time to feature him. The programme research was going well, especially when we found his brother who he had not seen in many years, working in South Africa. We brought his brother with his South African wife over for the programme. Although he seemed like a fairly tough character he agreed to go under wraps until the show to keep the secret.

On the day of the programme I was rung up at about six o'clock in the morning to be told that our friend had taken his wife out to a local pub for a quick drink and that someone had been less than complimentary about his wife's accent. He returned the compliment by planting a right hand punch across the offender's jaw, neatly breaking it! The call had come from West Hampstead police station, where he was going to be charged that day with GBH.

There were two problems: first that the press would get the story and blow our surprise in the evening papers, and the second that George's brother would not be available for the programme – or anything else – for some time.

I went straight to the Hampstead court and although I couldn't explain to the officer in charge, I offered to make my explanation to the magistrate in question. To my surprise the magistrate agreed to let the brother go and even more to my surprise he told me he was a fan of the programme. The charge was dropped and the prisoner was put into my charge on the proviso that he would be on the first plane back to South Africa on the following day.

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...

...just as we did years ago when the brother of our celebrity flown in from New York got into a bit of a fracas the night before and was due to appear in court a few hours before we recorded. All was explained to the magistrate, who let him off and released him in the 'good behaviour' custody of the Life. The magistrate was a fan of the show.

And, I suspect, of TV's Special Branch. Our subject was its star, George Sewell, and the young man who had been 'collared' was his brother Danny.

Series 14 subjects