Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life has regularly paid tribute to members of the acting fraternity - those who appear in front of the camera, but here we take a look at those subjects who achieved greatness behind the camera.
So put down your clapperboard and viewfinder, and frame yourself to get a key grip on the following names who received the Big Red Book* treatment...
Daniel ANGEL 10 February 1958 The film producer - who contracted polio while serving with the Royal Artillery during the Second World War - was already on the stage of the BBC Television Theatre when Eamonn surprised him. He had been led to believe that the subject was to be the actor Kenneth More - who turned up to pay his tribute to Daniel, while comedian Bud Flanagan sent a filmed message. |
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Anthony KIMMINS 20 March 1961 The film director, playwright, screenwriter, producer and actor - who wrote and directed many of George Formby's best comedies and served in the Royal Navy during both World Wars - was surprised by Eamonn outside the BBC Television Theatre. |
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Harold FRENCH 27 May 1970 Eamonn surprised the former stage matinee idol who became a successful film director at Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. |
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John SCHLESINGER 19 November 1980 The Oscar winning film director, who began his career with the BBC, was surprised by Eamonn in London's Covent Garden. |
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Lord BRABOURNE 17 October 1990 During a gala evening for what Thames Television billed as their 501st This Is Your Life, Michael surprised the Oscar nominated film producer at London's Old Brewery, in front of an audience of past subjects. |
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Sydney SAMUELSON 15 June 1994 Michael enlisted the help of Richard Attenborough to surprise the UK's first British Film Commissioner and founder of Samuelson's Film Services – the industry's provider of film equipment - at London's Museum of Moving Image. |
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Freddie YOUNG 11 October 1996 One of Britain's most distinguished and influential cinematographers was surprised - at the age of 93 - by Michael at the Odeon cinema in London's Leicester Square at an unveiling of a blue plaque in his honour by actor Peter O'Toole. |
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Michael WINNER 17 October 2001 The film director turned food critic was surprised by Michael, appropriately, in a central London restaurant. Guests include Chef Marco Pierre White and actors Joan Collins and Michael Caine, and the show includes an emotional tribute to Michael's work with the foundation of the Police Memorial Trust. |
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Elmer BERNSTEIN 6 February 2003 The American composer - responsible for hundreds of film and television scores and nominated for fourteen Oscars - was surprised by Michael at London's Royal Albert Hall following a concert held to celebrate his 80th birthday year. |
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Vic ARMSTRONG 26 June 2003 Michael arranged a hair-raising stunt at Pinewood Studios in order to surprise the well respected Stunt Coordinator and Action Unit director. Vic has worked on some of the biggest movies ever made and is notable for the action sequences of several James Bond films. His show includes tributes from Harrison Ford, Pierce Brosnan and Bond producers Barbara Broccolli and Michael Wilson. |
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* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details