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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - John Humphrys, broadcaster, was surprised by Michael Aspel while recording the BBC's political television programme On The Record at the BBC Television Centre.

John, who was born in Cardiff, began his career as a junior reporter with the Merthyr Express and the Western Mail. He joined the BBC in 1966 as the district reporter for Liverpool and the Northwest before becoming the BBC's youngest foreign correspondent.

As a reporter for more than 40 years, he covered the Aberfan disaster, President Nixon's resignation, Mandela's rise to power in South Africa and front-line action in various war zones around the globe. In 1981 he became the main presenter of the BBC's flagship Nine O'Clock News before joining the agenda-setting Radio 4's Today programme in 1987.

"Oh, you've conned me, haven't you? That if I may say so is a very dirty trick to play on a fellow professional!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1061
• Subject No: 1036
• Broadcast date: Thu 11 Jan 2001
• Broadcast time: 8.00-8.40pm
• Recorded: Sun 19 Nov 2000
• Venue: Teddington Studios
• Series: 41
• Edition: 8
• Code name: Pops

on the guest list...

• James Naughtie
• Sue MacGregor
• Anna Ford
• Valerie Sanderson - partner
• John Simpson
• Graham - brother
• Rob - brother
• Anne - sister
• Bill Barratt
• Norman Rees
• Catherine - daughter
• Chris Drake
• Bob Grevemberg
• Moira Stuart
• Michael Buerk
• Patrick Holden
• Peter Segger
• Judith Smith - niece
• Francois Marais
• Christopher - son
• Owen James - son
Filmed tributes:
• Michael Heseltine
• George - father
• Chris Cramer
• Kenneth Clarke
• Charles Kennedy
• Mo Mowlam

related appearances...

• Michael Nicholson - Dec 1991
• John Simpson - Jan 1997
• Trevor Baylis - Oct 1997

production team...

• Researcher: Deborah Cowan
• Writer: Joe Steeples
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

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

News At Ten

reporting the news

Extended Life

the special editions

Mo Mowlam

John Simpson

Screenshots of John Humphrys This Is Your Life