This Is Your Life: Liz Hobbs

Liz HOBBS MBE (1960-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Liz Hobbs, water skier, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while riding a horse - with jockey Bob Champion - into Thames Television's Teddington Studios, having been led to believe she was about to take part in the children's programme Splash.

Liz, who was born in St Albans, began water-skiing at the age of 9 while on a family holiday in Spain, and despite suffering from asthma, went on to become the most successful British speed water skier of all time.

She held seven British National and two European titles and became the world champion in 1981 and 1983. A life-threatening crash in July 1984 threatened her career, but following a miraculous recovery, Liz was back competing in the European Championships within weeks.

"I don't believe this! Oh, Eamonn!"

programme details...

Edition No: 717
Subject No: 714
Broadcast date: Wed 7 Jan 1987
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Tue 23 Dec 1986
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 27
Edition: 13
Code name: Wave

on the guest list...

Bob Champion
Peter - father
Jacqueline - mother
Stephen - brother
Deborah - sister
Elizabeth Hebden - grandmother
Leonard Hebden - grandfather
Doris Allcock
Hugh Faulkner
David Metcalfe
Philip Mills
Craig Upcott
Tessa Osborne
Louise Burton
Nicola Hill
Christopher Cade
Alison Miller
Jason Briggs
Tessa McDay
Donna Hartley
Charles Gill
David Wilkie
Patti Boulaye
John Hoiles
Steven Moore
Lisa Coupland
Nicky Carpenter
Darren Kirkland
Cliff Price
Kim Gooding
Wesley Phillips
Mervin Phillips
Tony Waite
Gary Weatherall
Eddie Bojther
David Roberts
Shirley Protheroe
Philip Rose
Robin Wilson
Dr Fred Griffiths
Richard Noble
Emlyn Hughes
Suzanne Dando

production team...

Researchers: Claire Jenkinson, David N Mason
Writer: Tom Kennedy
Directors: Terry Yarwood, Michael D Kent
Associate Producer: Brian Klein
Producer: Malcolm Morris

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

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Bob Champion

Emlyn Hughes

Screenshots of Liz Hobbs This Is Your Life

Liz Hobbs recalls her experience of This Is Your Life in her autobiography...

One day towards the end of 1986, I was filming a New Year's Eve sequence for the children's TV show Splash - or so I thought. The idea was that I should ride into the studio on a horse, sitting behind former jockey, Bob Champion.

I couldn't believe it when Eamonn Andrews appeared to help me down, clutching his famous red book, and telling me: 'Liz Hobbs. this is your life'.

There was a truly moving moment for me on the show, when they brought on my wonderful old friend, Charles Gill, who had helped me to break my first speed record all those years ago. He could hardly have guessed back in 1976, when I was sweet sixteen and we just managed to clock 66.596 m.p.h. that one day I would be planning to have a crack at the 100 m.p.h. barrier. That's one thing I would love to do before I call it a day.

Deb turned up for the show heavily pregnant, and just over a month later, in February 1987, I became an auntie for the first time. Little Victoria Emma weighed in at 5lbs 15ozs - and she is just beautiful.

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

Twice world water-ski champion Liz Hobbs MBE almost didn't live for us to do her Life. When she crashed at 80 mph in July 1984, it was 'like hitting a concrete wall'.

Her neck was cracked and she had six broken ribs, a smashed breastbone and a punctured lung.

She made a miraculous recovery and came to the studios on 23 December 1986 for, she thought, an appearance on the children's programme Splash.

But Eamonn Andrews was waiting.

Michael Aspel was waiting in Yorkshire to surprise her Emmerdale star husband, Frazer Hines, on 11 September 1992. Beamed Liz after the show: 'We've now got bookends.'

Series 27 subjects