Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Ray Cooney, playwright, actor and director, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the American Bar of the Savoy Hotel in London, having been led to believe he was there to meet an American producer.

Ray began his theatrical career as a juvenile actor in Song of Norway at London's Palace Theatre in 1946. Following his National Service in the Army, he spent five years in weekly repertory theatre before joining the Brian Rix Company at the Whitehall Theatre in 1956. During this period, he wrote his first play, One for the Pot, with co-writer Tony Hilton, which premiered in 1961 and ran successfully for over four years.

Ray wrote several more plays over the next few years, including Chase Me Comrade in 1964, and - with writer John Chapman - Charlie Girl, Not Now Darling and Move Over Mrs Markham. Having established Ray Cooney Productions in 1970, he began producing plays, and by 1975, he had seven theatrical productions in London's West End - all running simultaneously.

"That's the only bit of good news I've had all day!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 398
• Subject No: 397
• Broadcast date: Wed 15 Jan 1975
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Wed 18 Dec 1974 6.30pm
• Venue: Euston Road Studios
• Series: 15
• Edition: 11
• Code name: Minstrel

on the guest list...

• William Franklyn
• Derek Nimmo
• Moira Lister
• Robert Morley
• Julie Ege
• Linda - wife
• Daniel - son
• Michael - son
• Olive - mother
• Gerry - father
• Roy Hepworth
• Ivy - aunt
• Rosie - aunt
• Leyland Vincent
• Brian Rix
• John Slater
• Bert Weedon
• Tony Hilton
• John Chapman
• Anna Neagle
• Valerie Glynne

related appearances...

• Brian Rix - Apr 1977
• William Franklyn - Apr 1978
• Andrew Sachs - Jan 1980
• Gemma Craven - Mar 1981
• Donald Sinden - May 1985
• Honor Blackman - Feb 1993
• Richard Briers - Mar 1994
• Charlie Drake - Oct 1995
• Trevor Bannister - Dec 1997
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• Gyles Brandreth - Aug 2003

production team...

• Researchers: Jack Piler, Debbie Gaunt
• Writer: Martin Robertson
• Director: Robert Reed
• Producer: Jack Crawshaw

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

Backstage Life

raising the curtain

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Moira Lister

Robert Morley

Anna Neagle

Brian Rix

Interviews

Ray Cooney recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in April 2013

Screenshots of Ray Cooney This Is Your Life