Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

• HOME
• |
• SERIES
• |
• SUBJECTS
• |
• FEATURES
• |
• ARTICLES
• |
• INTERVIEWS
• |
• ABOUT

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Jeremy Clarkson, journalist, writer and television presenter, was surprised by Michael Aspel during an appearance at the Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Jeremy, who was born in Doncaster, developed an early interest in cars - his first word was Maserati! After leaving school, he studied journalism at college in Sheffield before working for the Rotherham Advertiser. Following a period as a travelling salesman selling toy Paddington Bears, he set up a business supplying car articles to newspapers.

His big break came with an article in Performance Car magazine in 1985, which led to national recognition with a regular column. In 1987, a tryout with BBC television's Top Gear programme led to him joining the presenting team permanently the year later. In addition to presenting, he continued to write, having written several books and contributing to various newspapers and magazines.

"Oh my god! Good heavens! Does this mean I have to spend the next hour with my old music teacher?"

programme details...

• Edition No: 953
• Subject No: 928
• Broadcast date: Fri 25 Oct 1996
• Broadcast time: 8.00-8.30pm
• Recorded: Sat 19 Oct 1996
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 37
• Edition: 6
• Code name: Test

on the guest list...

• Quentin Wilson
• Tiff Needell
• Francie - wife
• Shirley - mother
• Joanna - sister
• John - brother-in-law
• Pat Bayliss - aunt
• Alan Bayliss - uncle
• Richard Bates
• Dr Mark Porter - cousin
• Andy Wilman
• Tony Price
• Peggy Price
• Jim Kelly
• Kim Hackett
• Nicola Young
• Jonathan Gill
• Jess Cross
• Peter Frater
• Emily - daughter
• Finlo - son
• Rate - nanny
• Alan Whicker
Filmed tributes:
• Chris Rea
• Anne Robinson

related appearance...

• Anne Robinson - Feb 1998

production team...

• Researcher: Ruth Malone
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Directors: Terry Kinnane, Paul Kirrage
• Associate Producer: Sue Green
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Producer: John Graham

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

Presenting Life

celebrating the hosts

Ratings slump sounds death knell for This Is Your Life

Press speculation on the future of This Is Your Life

BBC axes This Is Your Life

Press coverage of the BBC's announcement

Anne Robinson

Alan Whicker

Screenshots of Jeremy Clarkson This Is Your Life