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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Nigel Davenport, actor, was surprised by Michael Aspel at the Cheltenham stables of former National Hunt jockey David Nicholson during a party celebrating the recent success of a racehorse he part owns.

Nigel, who was born in Cambridgeshire, began acting while studying English at Trinity College, Oxford, after working as a disc jockey on the British Forces Broadcasting Service in Germany while serving his National Service with the Royal Army Service Corps. He worked in repertory theatre before joining the English Stage Company at the Royal Court, where he appeared in more than a dozen plays, notably A Taste of Honey - a play he performed on Broadway in 1960.

In great demand as a screen actor by the mid-1960s, he gained critical acclaim as the Duke of Norfolk in the 1966 Academy Award winner A Man for All Seasons. International recognition followed, with roles in films such as Zulu Dawn, Chariots of Fire, and Greystoke. He also appeared regularly on television in drama series such as ITV's South Riding and the BBC's Howard's Way.

"Oh my goodness... dear oh dear oh dear... well, what a surprise!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 969
• Subject No: 944
• Broadcast date: Mon 24 Feb 1997
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Tue 30 Jul 1996
• Venue: Teddington Studios
• Series: 37
• Edition: 22
• Code name: Court

on the guest list...

• Warren Marston
• Peter - brother
• Michael - nephew
• Anthony - nephew
• Laura Davenport - daughter
• Johnny - son-in-law
• George - grandson
• Milly - granddaughter
• Dorothy Tutin
• Trevor Hill
• Donald Cullimore
• Charles Hodgson
• Peter Croft
• William Millingshift
• John Stitt
• Gerry Glaister
• Frances Cuka
• Dinsdale Landen
• Michael Jayston
• Tony Anholt
• Patrick Ryecart
• Raymond Baxter
• Cliff Michelmore
Filmed tributes:
• Hugo Davenport - son
• Sarah - daughter-in-law
• Bram - grandson
• Jack Davenport - son
• Dulcie Gray
• Donald Sinden

related appearances...

• Donald Sinden - May 1985
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• Dorothy Tutin - Dec 2000

production team...

• Researcher: Ruth Malone
• Writer: Maurice Leonard
• Directors: Brian Klein, Terry Kinane
• Associate Producer: Sue Green
• Executive Producer: Gill Stribling-Wright
• Producer: John Graham

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

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Raymond Baxter

Dulcie Gray

Cliff Michelmore

Donald Sinden

Dorothy Tutin

Interviews

Nigel Davenport recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in June 2008

Screenshots of Nigel Davenport This Is Your Life