Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Jonathan DAVIES MBE (1962-)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Jonathan Davies, rugby player, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of Sue Barker, Jeremy Guscott and Frankie Dettori - while recording an edition of the BBC television programme A Question of Sport at the Granada Television studios in Manchester.
Jonathan, who was born in Trimsaran in Wales, began his professional rugby career in 1982 with Neath RFC, where he was made captain before being transferred to Llanelli in 1988. The following year he switched codes from rugby union to rugby league and was signed by the Widnes Vikings. He later played in Sydney, Australia, before returning to the UK to join the Warrington Wolves.
In 1995 he became the first player to convert back to rugby union again when he signed with Cardiff RFC, where he stayed until 1997. He played internationally in both rugby codes, achieving 37 caps for the Welsh national rugby union team, making his debut in 1985, and playing a part in their Triple Crown success in 1988. After retiring from playing, Jonathan became a television commentator for both codes.
"You're not kidding? Have you got the right person?"
programme details...
- Edition No: 1113
- Subject No: 1089
- Broadcast date: Thu 20 Feb 2003
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Wed 8 Jan 2003 9.30pm
- Venue: BBC Cardiff
- Series: 43
- Edition: 8
- Code name: Dragon
on the guest list...
- Helen - wife
- Scott - son
- Grace - daughter
- Geena - daughter
- Steve Rider
- Jeremy Guscott
- Eddie Butler
- Gavin Hastings
- Diana - mother
- Meirion Davies
- Gareth Davies
- Caroline - sister
- Maldwyn Griffiths
- Ken Williams - stepfather
- Bleddyn Williams
- Derek Quinnell
- Scott Gibbs
- Mike Moore
- Allan Bateman
- Paul Moriarty
- Nigel Walker
- Phil Davies - brother-in-law
- Doug Laughton
- Martin Offiah
- Ellery Hanley
- Peter Corrigan
- Ieuan Evans
- Max Boyce
- Treorchy Male Voice Choir
- Aled Jones Filmed tributes:
- Phil Bennett
- Peter Owens
- Edward Horan
- pupils of Trimsaran Primary School
- Rob Andrew
- Ryan Giggs
- Ian Botham
- Neil Kinnock
production team...
- Researcher: Ian Skelton
- Writer: Joe Steeples
- Director: John Gorman
- Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
- Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
- Producer: Sue Green
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
tackling rugby's top names
Press coverage on the uncertain future of This Is Your Life
Screenshots of Jonathan Davies This Is Your Life
THIS IS YOUR LIFE
CHORISTERS rubbed shoulders with some of Wales's greatest sporting stars when they filmed one of the last broadcasts of the long-running This Is Your Life. It was the second time for the singers to appear on the popular television show, having surprised Cliff Morgan on his special night more than fifteen years ago.
Members provided the finale as presenter Michael Aspel brandished his big red book to surprise unsuspecting rugby legend, Jonathan Davies. The choir was invited to appear on the show to perform the Welsh National Anthem with Aled Jones, as the final surprise for the rugby star. Jonathan Davies thought he was recording a normal episode of A Question of Sport in Manchester when Michael Aspel walked onto the set to surprise him. Then the Wales star was whisked to Cardiff where a host of celebrities, including the Treorchy men, awaited his arrival at the BBC Studios in Llandaff.
Surprise guests to greet the player at the late-night recording included Ieuan Evans, Brynmor Williams, Eddie Butler, Gareth Davies and Gavin Hastings, all there to pay tribute to their old friend. Max Boyce and Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable made guest appearances, while rugby legend Phil Bennett took the camera crew to Davies's hometown of Trimsaran in Carmarthenshire to meet his childhood friends. And even European Commissioner Neil Kinnock gave a tribute via video link.
The star told the audience how his major regret was the fact that his father never saw him wear the red jersey for this country.
When Michael Aspel asked him what went through his mind the first time he sang Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau while playing for Wales, Jonathan said it was the memory of his father.
It was at this point that Aled Jones walked onto the set with a selected forty members of the Treorchy choir to perform the anthem.
"Boys, I just can't thank you enough for being here tonight," said Jonathan Davies.
"It's been fantastic."
Wales Online 14 January 2003
RUGBY legend Jonathan Davies thought he was recording a normal episode of A Question of Sport when there was a commotion and into the television studio walked Michael Aspel, bearing a red book
When the former Wales star realised what was happening he couldn't be sure which of the illustrious panellists was the broadcaster's target.
Half an hour later he was on his way from Manchester to the BBC studios in Cardiff where a star-studded audience was waiting to pay tribute to him in This Is Your Life.
With the likes of Max Boyce on the guest list there were bound to be more than a few laughs during the filming session, but there were also some poignant moments as Davies recalled his father, who never saw him win his first Wales cap, and his first wife Karen, who died of cancer in 1997.
Yesterday some of the guests who didn't get a chance to speak to camera for the show paid tribute to Davies.
Gareth Davies, the former Wales rugby player who attended the same school as Jonathan Davies at Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, praised him for bouncing back after various setbacks.
Former Wales captain Ieuan Evans recalled the blow to the team when Davies went north to play rugby league but said he had been right to put his family first.
"He was castigated, which made his move all the more depressing, but I understood his reasons: that he had his family to think about," said Evans. "He set great store by his family."
"Life has thrown its bad points and good points at him but he's stood up to them all."
"He's got a very strong family behind him."
Some of those relatives, including Davies's mother, sister, second wife and three children, were present at the Llandaff studio for the recording session.
At one point Davies was asked by Cardiff-born Michael Aspel what went through his mind the first time he sang Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau in the Wales team line-up for the first time. [Bigredbook.info editor: Michael Aspel was born in London.]
Davies replied that he was thinking of his father, who had died before seeing him in the proud red jersey of his country.
For the benefit of any viewers outside Wales who may not be familiar with the anthem, Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was sung at the end of the filming session by Aled Jones and the Treorchy Male Choir.
Another musician involved in the show was Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable.
European Commissioner Neil Kinnock, formerly leader of the Labour Party, could not be present on the night but was so keen to pay tribute to one of his all-time rugby heroes that he recorded a short speech which will feature on the televised show.
Phil Bennett, a member of the unbeatable Wales team in the late 1970s, had also prepared material in advance - to take viewers on a whistle-stop tour of Trimsaran and the rural school that astonishingly produced Wales stars Carwyn James, Barry John, Gareth Davies and Jonathan Davies.
Trimsaran RFC was also well represented in the audience for the show, the transmission date for which has yet to be fixed.
Iestyn Harris, who shares Davies's experience of switching rugby codes, represented the current Wales and Cardiff teams in the studio.
Former Scotland captain Gavin Hastings was present, representing the many players who had the unenviable task of trying to thwart Davies on the rugby field.
Davies has also carved a successful career as a rugby commentator and pundit for television and fellow players-turned-commentators Eddie Butler and Brynmor Williams were present for the recording of This Is Your Life.
Gareth Davies said yesterday that Davies had overcome a number of hurdles including the death of his father and first wife and adjusting to the league code.
"He was the first player to go from union to league and back. He can always bounce back."
"We went to the same school. He was in the first form when I was in the sixth form. We were always aware of natural talent that was developing in our particular locality. I had to keep an eye on him."
Ieuan Evans said Davies had been an electrifying player from the tradition of great Welsh outside halves.
"When he had the ball in his hands you wondered what he had in mind," said Evans.
"His talent shone through in abundance. He could lift a game out of nothing."
"He's a very good friend of mine. I was best man at his wedding."
"I know how strong his character is and what he's had to go through."
"We come from a similar area of Wales and have the sheer bloody-mindedness of West Walians. He's got a fierce determination to succeed."
"He's very competitive, although he doesn't show that at times."
"He still doesn't like to lose, even now when he's playing five-a-side soccer."
Evans remembered Davies's momentous decision to play professional rugby league, a move that stirred controversy because it would make him ineligible to play rugby union for Wales.
"It was quite late one evening when he phoned me to say he had signed."
"I had been in the Wales team for some time with him."
"It was a sad blow at that point when we could ill afford to lose a key player."
Warrington Guardian 23 January 2003
FORMER Warrington Wolves great Jonathan Davies will be the focus of a future episode of BBC's This Is Your Life.
Davies, who starred in primrose and blue for three seasons of his illustrious playing career, was recording A Question of Sport in Manchester when presenter Michael Aspel showed him the famous red book.
Davies was whisked off to the BBC Studios in his home city of Cardiff, where family, friends, sports stars and celebrities were gathered to honour his life so far.
Heroics
Among them were two other ex-Warrington players: Mike Nicholas, who was manager of the Wales Rugby League side which Davies captained to the Centenary World Cup semi-finals at Old Trafford in 1995, plus Iestyn Harris, who is now playing for Davies' old Cardiff Rugby Union Club.
As well as reflecting on Davies' rugby heroics, there were some poignant moments as he recalled his father, who never saw him win his first Wales cap, and his first wife, Karen, who died of cancer in 1997.
The show, for which a transmission date has yet to be set, does not hide away from the 'controversy' of Davies leaving behind his homeland and Welsh Rugby Union for a professional career in rugby league in 1989.
Davies, with 27 Welsh caps under his belt, sought financial security for his family and signed a four-year contract with Widnes.
Warrington's Cheshire rivals were struggling to maintain Davies' wages and he sensationally moved to Wilderspool for the 1993/94 season.
One man does not make a team but Davies' genius in attack, with the ability to create something out of nothing, helped to steer Warrington to joint top of the table. Davies and co. missed out on the league title to Wigan and runners-up spot to Bradford on points difference.
Davies, playing in the centre, finished the campaign as Warrington's leading scorer with 21 tries and 110 goals, including 11 drop goals.
His outstanding season was rewarded with the game's Man of Steel award and First Division Player of the Year title. He was only the second Warrington player to have won the Man of Steel crown.
Davies' international career was rejuvenated while at Wilderspool with seven Wales and four Great Britain appearances going his way. He appears in the all-time Great Britain top 10 rugby league try and goal scorers thanks to those efforts.
Davies' services to sport were recognised that year though when he was awarded an MBE.
His third and final season was cut short through injury before he returned to union with Cardiff in 1995 after the Centenary World Cup.
Father-of-three Davies, aged 40, married for a second time in August, 2002, and now enjoys his career as co-commentator and presenter of both codes for BBC Television.
The Telegraph 17 February 2003
By Robert Philip
It says everything about Jonathan Davies that when Michael Aspel materialised in the Question of Sport studio clutching his famous red book, the boy from the Welsh valleys never imagined he might be the intended target. "I thought he'd come for Sue Barker or Ally McCoist, maybe, so I was sitting back with a big grin on my face enjoying the drama..."
That smile changed to a look of stupefaction when Aspel, with a body-swerve worthy of the great fly-half, himself, swept round Barker and McCoist to announce the immortal words: "Jonathan Davies MBE, tonight, This Is Your Life..."
And as viewers will see on Thursday when the episode is shown on BBC1, what a life it has been - from a 92-hour weekly shift down the coalmines of Dyfed to sporting deification, from the double heartache of losing his father and young wife to cancer, leaving Davies to bring up three children all under the age of 10, to his recent remarriage and the prospect of a new baby in May, from rugby union and rugby league superstar to television analyst, renowned for his wit and wisdom.
"When you start out in sport, you have your dreams... to play for Llanelli, to play for Wales, to captain your country, but you can't plan for things like being invited to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE or being the subject of This Is Your Life. There have only been about 1,500 guests since the 1950s, so I suppose it's a recognition of what you've achieved in your chosen field."
"When you think of some of the people who've been on - Mo Mowlam, great surgeons, lifeboat captains, Muhammad Ali - it makes you proud to be a part of it. Then again, Robert Maxwell was on once..."
Jonathan Davies was born 40 years ago in the mining town of Trimsaran (population 1,500), developing into a teenage player of some renown at Gwendraeth Grammar School, where the framed images of the school's most celebrated former pupils - Carwyn James, Barry John and Gareth Davies - gazed down upon him from the corridor walls.
He might have gone to university but, with his mother, Diana, forced to work in the school canteen after the death of his father, Len, the 14-year-old Davies surrendered all interest in prolonging his education. "I'd try to do my swotting, but I'd only have to hear the thud of my mates' football in the street outside - rugby or soccer ball, it didn't matter - and I was off..."
Two days after his appearance on This Is Your Life Davies will be on duty in the BBC studio at the Millennium Stadium for Saturday's Six Nations Championship contest between Wales and England, and it was on this site in the old Cardiff Arms' Park 18 years ago that he made his international debut in the same fixture.
"Wales-England has always been more than a game and when I hear Land Of My Fathers echoing round that fantastic stadium, the hairs on the back of my neck will stand up just as they did that afternoon in 1985."
"I loved my time in rugby league at Widnes and Warrington because the people up there are brilliant and I made many friends. It's only 150 miles door to door to my home in Cardiff, but it's a different world. Being Welsh makes you different, see? We have different music, different accent, a different language in many cases."
"That's why the result in Rome was so very disappointing; before the weekend, all Wales was expecting a victory over Italy - after all, we had recently beaten them at soccer - and was praying for a French victory at Twickenham. Now, having lost in such a depressing way and with England, the No 1 team in the world at the moment, due in Cardiff after a winning start, there is a general feeling of trepidation. We don't have much time to regain our confidence."
"What do I remember of my debut? Every second from the moment I woke up. I'd only played 12 first-class club games. So it was an unbelievable experience, especially since it was against England in Cardiff because, given their dominance of the UK, the Welsh, Scots and Irish are united in always wanting to beat the English."
"After the team meeting in the morning I tried to eat some food - because you have to keep something down - but could only manage a couple of coffees and went back to my hotel room, switched on the telly to take my mind off the afternoon ahead, and on came the Grandstand theme music with pictures of the stadium where I was about to play; it was surreal, really."
"I was nervous before every match but trebly so that day because I didn't want to be the one to make the mistake which could cost Wales victory. Every sportsman suffers the fear of failure, the awful dread of letting everyone down - your family as much as your team-mates."
"I was incredibly nervous in the dressing-room, not my usual cheeky-chappie self, and I can remember Terry Holmes, bless him, coming over and whispering in my ear, 'Listen, boyo, don't worry, if you weren't good enough, you wouldn't be here. I'll look after you...'"
"Look after me? For the first 20 minutes he never gave me a pass. So I finally had to pull Terry aside and say, 'For Christ's sake, Terry, give me the ball, I'm alright'" - 'alright' being a dropped goal and a try which inspired Wales to a 24-15 triumph. And thus was the legend of Jonathan Davies born. "My only regret, of course, was that my dad did not live to see me running out at Cardiff Arms Park wearing the red shirt of his beloved Wales."
Four years later, after leading Wales to their first Triple Crown since 1979, Davies, the latest king in an empyrean line of Welsh fly-halves stretching back through Gareth Davies, Phil Bennett, Barry John and Cliff Morgan, stunned his nation by abdicating his crown to play rugby league (boo, hiss...) in England (off with his head...).
"I hated leaving Wales but when someone offers you 10 times what you're earning down a pit to play rugby, then with a mortgage to pay and a baby to feed you have to put your family first."
A passionate Welshman, whose "misty valley" accent remains untainted by his subsequent seven years in a foreign land, Davies was genuinely hurt that some people chose to regard his switch to the professional code as the act of a traitor.
"There was a lot of resentment about the money I was getting, and don't forget a lot of the lads regarded me as a short-arsed Welsh pansy from rugby union. But I like to think I did alright" - 'alright' in this case being twice voted player of the year and becoming a regular in the Great Britain XIII.
With the dawn of professionalism in rugby union, Davies returned to Cardiff RUFC and a BBC microphone in 1996; it should have been the happiest of times, instead of which he was plunged into dark despair following the death of his young wife, Karen.
"It was a tough time, a very, very tough time. To be honest, I began burning the candle at both ends in an attempt to ease the pain and I could have easily gone off the rails. But the children - Scott, Grace and Geena (now aged 14, 10 and eight) - pulled me out of it and kept me on the straight and narrow."
"Also, the BBC were magnificently understanding. Whenever there was a school concert, a church service or a kids' Christmas party, they never hesitated to give me time off. The BBC appreciated that as a single parent, my priorities lay elsewhere so the children grew up knowing they'd always come first."
"But at some point you have to draw a line... what happened, happened; with three young children dependent upon you as their dad, you can not afford to be morbid or depressed for ever, life is for living. So when I look at the kids now - and in all modesty they'd be a credit to any mum and dad - I think a lot of that is due to my new wife, Helen."
"Just like I've never forgotten my dad, they never have and never will forget their mum. But they've got a new confidence about them since Helen came into our lives and the family will be wholly complete again when the baby arrives in three months. It's lovely that Scott, Grace and Geena are every bit as excited as Helen and me about the latest addition."
Even if you have no interest whatsoever in rugby, I urge you to tune in and share the life of Jonathan Davies MBE, one of the most engaging, amusing and self-effacing of sporting gods.
The Mirror 19 February 2003
Byline: BRENDAN WILLIAMS
THIS is the moment Jonathan Davies got a famous addition to his bulging trophy cabinet - Michael Aspel's big red book.
The Welsh rugby legend is the latest star to be honoured on This Is Your Life tomorrow night.
Welsh Daily Mirror columnist Jonathan thought he was recording an edition of A Question of Sport when Michael Aspel sprung the surprise.
And he took some convincing that the presenter was there for him.
Jonathan, 40, said: "I thought he'd come for Sue Barker or Ally McCoist."
"So I was sitting back with a big grin on my face enjoying the drama."
It took a trip from the BBC's Manchester office to their studios in Cardiff to finally convince Jonathan the focus was on him.
In Cardiff he was greeted by a star-studded gathering of close friends and former rugby colleagues.
Also there to greet him were his wife Helen - who is expecting a baby girl in May - and his children Scott, 14, Grace, 10 and eight-year-old Geena.
Among the guests were comedian Max Boyce, rugby commentator Eddie Butler and Wales star Iestyn Harris. Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock also paid a glowing tribute.
After the show, Jonathan said: "When you think of some of the people who've been on, it makes you proud to be a part of it."
Jonathan, from Trimaran, west Wales, recalls some of his saddest memories, like the death of both his father and his first wife Karen. Jonathan's father, Len, died when he was just a youngster and never saw him play for Wales while first wife Karen died of cancer in 1996.
Jonathan threw himself into his work in an attempt to beat the pain of Karen's death.
Earlier this week, he said: "I began burning the candle at both ends to ease the pain and I could have gone off the rails."
"But the children got me out of it."
The fly-half-turned BBC rugby pundit has rebuilt his life after marrying new bride Helen last summer.
The pair are expecting their first child together - a baby girl.
He added: "With three young children dependent upon you as their dad, you cannot afford to be morbid."
"So when I look at the kids now - they'd be a credit to any mum and dad - I think a lot of that is due to my new wife, Helen."
"Like I've never forgotten my dad, they will never forget their mum."
Former welsh teammate Ieuan Evans said: "Life has thrown its bad points and good points at him, but he's stood up to them all."
Welsh rugby fan Neil Kinnock said: "Your brilliant rugby in both codes delighted everyone who watched you."
"You have also shown remarkable courage on the field and in your personal life. That makes you special."
Series 43 subjects
David Dickinson | Mo Mowlam | Gillian Taylforth | Mike Rutherford | John McArdle | Elmer Bernstein | Charles CollingwoodJonathan Davies | Elizabeth Pescops | George Best | Lisa Maxwell | Roger Cook | Bob Monkhouse | Nicholas Winton
Anthony Andrews | Alex Norton | John Bardon | Simon Cowell | Alec Stewart | Vic Armstrong | Chris Bonington
John Middleton | Bob Harris | Gyles Brandreth | Aled Jones