This Is Your Life: Graham Hill

Graham HILL (1929-1975)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Graham Hill, racing driver, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during the press launch of a new Formula 1 racing car at the Hilton Hotel in London, from where the programme was then broadcast.

Graham, who was born in London, trained as an engineer after leaving school and spent his National Service as a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy. He passed his driving test at the age of 24 and, having first raced motorcycles, he switched to racing cars after seeing an advertisement for the Universal Motor Racing Club at Brands Hatch.

Graham became one of the most significant drivers of his generation, winning the Monaco Grand Prix five times, the Indianapolis 500 in 1966 and the Formula One World Championship in 1962 and 1968. He was seriously injured in a crash at the United States Grand Prix in 1969, but despite warnings that he would never race again, Graham was back behind the wheel within a few weeks.

programme details...

Edition No: 292
Subject No: 294
Broadcast live: Wed 20 Jan 1971
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Venue: Hilton Hotel, London
Series: 11
Edition: 10

on the guest list...

Bette - wife
Jackie Stewart
Innes Ireland
Norman - father
Connie - mother
Brian - brother
Eric Bentley
members of the London Rowing Club
Charles Pocock
members of the Springfield Boys Club, Clacton
Leonard Weller
John Coombs
Tony Rudd
Sister Muriel Borman
Jack Brabham
Brigitte - daughter
Damon Hill - son
Samantha - daughter
Stirling Moss

production team...

Researcher: Alan Haire
Writer: John Sandilands
Director: Margery Baker
Producer: Robert Tyrrell

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Life at Full Throttle

the lovers of speed

Family Life

keeping it in the family

Damon Hill

Stirling Moss

Jackie Stewart

Screenshots of Graham Hill This Is Your Life

Graham Hill recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his book, Graham...

I never cease to be amazed at the people who recognise me – particularly abroad. The 1971 season started with even more exposure. I was at the Hilton Hotel and had just made the official announcement about signing a contract with the Brabham team, for the forthcoming Grand Prix season, to a hundred or so press and television people – and we came to the questions. These usually go on for some time but there was something odd about this occasion. Only a few were asked and then there was an embarrassing silence. As I looked round the room I noticed that the three television cameras were not operating and that seemed odd, too. Then, without warning, all the camera lights went on and in came Eamonn Andrews clutching that famous This Is Your Life album. He took me into the next room before I had time to recover. It had been turned into a studio, with an audience already assembled.

I've often wondered how Eamonn manages to maintain the surprise with this programme, but Bette and my friends kept the secret and I hadn't an inkling until the vital moment. My parents joined Bette and me as my past life unfurled. Jack Brabham knew about the programme, but he never dropped the slightest hint. He came in and others followed: Stirling Moss, Tony Rudd from BRM, and Innes Ireland who, incidentally, had originally got me interested in flying. To my utter amazement a voice came over the speaker and in walked my brother – who had flown over from Vancouver. They also flew Jackie Stewart back from South Africa specially for the programme. It was very moving to be confronted so unexpectedly by these and other characters from my past.

Series 11 subjects