Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Paul Young, singer, songwriter and musician, was surprised by Michael Aspel at the end of a Here and Now concert at Wembley Arena in London.

Paul, who was born in Luton, first began singing with his local church choir, despite suffering from a stammer as a child. After leaving school, he tried various jobs, including a four-year apprenticeship with Vauxhall Motors. His ambition to sing led to him becoming the frontman for bands such as Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Q-Tips and Streetband, who had one top 20 hit in the UK with the novelty track, Toast.

As a solo performer, Paul became a teen idol in the 1980s and had a string of hit singles, such as Love of the Common People, Wherever I Lay My Hat, Come Back and Stay and Every Time You Go Away, all reaching the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. His debut album, No Parlez, released in 1983, made him a household name and was the first of three UK number-one albums.

"I don't swear very often - so I won't now!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1086
• Subject No: 1061
• Broadcast date: Wed 5 Dec 2001
• Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
• Recorded: Thu 15 Nov 2001
• Repeated: Wed 25 Sep 2002 7.00pm
• Venue: Teddington Studios
• Series: 42
• Edition: 7
• Code name: Hat

on the guest list...

• Levi - daughter
• Layla - daughter
• Grady Cole - son
• Stacey - wife
• Mark - brother
• Joanne - sister
• Doris - mother
• Tony - father
• Fred Daniels
• Eileen Molloy
• Andy Weller
• Bill Baldry
• Tony Hughes
• Mick Pearl
• Martin Soreen
• Kenney Jones
• Eddie O'Gorman
• Marion O'Gorman
• Zucchero
Filmed tributes:
• Chaka Khan
• Kim Wilde
• Fred Henderson
• Tony Hadley
• Midge Ure
• Bobby Womack
• Bob Geldof

related appearances...

• Bob Geldof - Jan 1985
• Margaret Hayles - Feb 1989
• Gary Glitter - Jan 1992
• Midge Ure - Mar 2001
• Julian Clary - Dec 2001
• George Best - Mar 2003

production team...

• Researchers: Jo Grant, Alex Renton
• 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

Top of the Pops

charting the pop stars

Midge Ure

Screenshots of Paul Young This Is Your Life