Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Linda Barker, interior designer and television presenter, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming on location for the BBC television programme Changing Rooms.

Linda, who was born in Bradford and brought up on her family's farm, studied at the West Surrey College of Art and Design in Farnham, where she graduated in Fine Art. After several jobs, including model, decorator and stewardess for Britannia Airlines, Linda bought and renovated a flat in London, which was later featured in the design magazine House Beautiful.

The feature led to a new career for Linda as an interior designer, and she became a regular contributor to styling magazines and wrote several design guides. In 1996 she was chosen to appear in a new do-it-yourself home improvement BBC television programme called Changing Rooms, and her appearances on the programme made her a household name.

"No! No way! For goodness sake!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1100
• Subject No: 1076
• Broadcast date: Wed 10 Apr 2002
• Broadcast time: 8.30-9.00pm
• Recorded: Thu 4 Apr 2002
• Venue: Fountain Studios
• Series: 42
• Edition: 21
• Code name: Plan

on the guest list...

• Jessica - daughter
• Chris Short - husband
• Carol Smillie
• Jayne - sister
• Jill - sister
• Sally - sister
• Ted - brother
• Melanie Bryant
• Andy Sutcliffe
• Alison Green
• Gary Ferroday
• Lee Clark
• John Winstanley
• Linda Clifford
• Ann Booth-Clibborn
• Graham Wynne
• Laura McCree
• Andy Kane
• Phil Turner
• J J Martinez
• Caroline Atkins
Filmed tributes:
• Sally Whittaker
• Bob - father
• Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
• Anna Ryder Richardson
• Ainsley Harriott

production team...

• Researcher: Jo Grant
• Writer: Ian Brown
• 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

Life As We Know It

highlighting the experts

Carol Smillie

Screenshots of Linda Barker This Is Your Life