This Is Your Life: Roger Whittaker

Roger WHITTAKER (1936-2023)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Roger Whittaker, singer-songwriter and musician, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews after being filmed piloting his plane at RAF Northolt, having been led to believe he was there for an interview about his hobby of flying.

Roger, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, studied medicine and worked as a teacher before moving to Britain in 1959 to further his teaching career by studying for a degree at Bangor University. While at Bangor, he began singing in local clubs and turned professional in 1962 with the release of his first single, The Charge of the Light Brigade. He signed with EMI's Columbia label in 1966 and achieved success with his first UK Top 20 hit, Durham Town.

The Last Farewell, a track from his 1971 New World in the Morning album, was released in 1975 and became his biggest hit and signature song, selling more than 11 million copies worldwide. His music is an eclectic mix of folk and popular songs, and he is best known for his baritone singing voice, trademark whistling ability, and guitar skills.

"You caught me!! That was a shock!"

programme details...

Edition No: 596
Subject No: 593
Broadcast live: Wed 10 Mar 1982
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Venue: Royalty Theatre
Series: 22
Edition: 23
Code name: Kenya

on the guest list...

Natalie - wife
Emily - daughter
Lauren - daughter
Jessica - daughter
Guy - son
Betty - sister
Alan Hurd
Neils Hvass
Ian Hurd
Sue Lanham
Charles Evans
Frank Carson
Hal Oliver
Terry Mathews
Jeanne Mathews
George Pierce
Rolf Harris
Brett Oliver
Alexander - son
Joan Collins
Chet Atkins

production team...

Researcher: Cathy Parnall
Writer: Maurice Leonard
Directors: Paul Stewart Laing, Terry Yarwood
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

A Song For Life

it's the singer not the song

Frank Carson

Rolf Harris

Screenshots of Roger Whittaker This Is Your Life

Roger Whittaker recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, So far, so good...

Life comes full circle, sometimes in the strangest ways. When I left Kenya back in 1962 I knew it would be many years before I'd return; but not in my wildest dreams could I have conjured up the actual circumstances of my homecoming. What an unforgettable experience that was, how wonderful once again to absorb the sights and sounds and smells of Africa, to see my parents, old friends, to wallow in the pleasures of the past. Nostalgia is like an anaesthetic: you experience no pain, only a beautiful haze. Anyway, when you grow older what matters to you is not the way it was, but the way you remember it.

After the warmth and sun of Africa, returning to the cold and wet of a British spring brought me down to earth with a bump. The film may have been 'in the can' but there was still a lot of cutting and editing to do and the recording of much important music.

During the course of our filming in Kenya the media had shown a lot of interest and when we returned we were inundated with requests for film clips, stills and interviews. I agreed with Irene that it was a good idea to keep the interest running and so let her book me on a number of chat shows. One of these, I was told, featured the various hobbies of the stars; since mine was flying and since I used my own plane in my business the idea evolved for me to be filmed in flight; this would become the opening sequence of the show. I would then go on to be interviewed. A good idea, I thought. It would be an easy show to do. I arranged therefore to fly into Northolt airport. On the appointed morning I waved goodbye to Natalie as she drove the kids off to school. From there she was going to our London office to do some work on the magazine we were then producing. 'See you after your taping!' she called out as she drove off.

At the airport near our home where I kept G-SONG tied down, I met the television production assistant who outlined the questions they would be asking. He told me they would be filming my landing, so you can be sure I made every effort to see that it was perfect. And it was. I taxied, parked, closed down the engines and opened the door. An official was there to greet me and behind him, his back to me, a man I took to be an engineer from his dress. Suddenly the official side-stepped and the 'engineer' turned around and thrust something into my hands.

'ROGER WHITTAKER . . . THIS IS YOUR LIFE!' cried Eamonn Andrews and a great cheer went up from the crowd that had surreptitiously gathered behind me.

Absolute and total shock. I didn't know what to say, how to respond. I just grinned stupidly and said, 'You caught me, Eamonn!'

The drive to the London studios found me still in a daze. All I could think of was: how on earth did Natalie keep it a secret? I thought I could read her like a book. Obviously I'd have to review my reading!

In the car, as he told me what was to follow, Eamonn appeared a trifle nervous. He told me then that Natalie had related to him a disastrous attempt at a This Is Your Life seven years earlier in Canada, and that I had jokingly warned her I'd divorce her if she ever tried to spring it on me again. Eamonn confided that he'd been convinced his surprise would be greeted by an angry, 'Not on your life, mate!' from me.

I can tell you that in the studio the 'star' of the programme is kept in isolation with not a clue to who is going to appear. I've never been so nervous in my life! Who was going to pop up? What were they going to say? What was I going to say? Would they drag in somebody from my past I'd forgotten – or, worse yet, would prefer to forget.

I can tell you, too, that I went through it all like a sleep-walker. Only four days later, when watching the tape of the show, did it all register.

Natalie, followed by our four eldest children, bounced onto the stage first, grinning from ear to ear. When I asked her how she'd managed to keep the secret she told me - and the millions watching - that until that very morning not even the kids had known. Instead of driving them to school, as they'd expected, she had diverted to London. Their change of clothes had been deposited at the studio by her on a previous trip. Alex, at three, was too little to appear, she said, but on the screen Eamonn then flashed a film clip of him singing and plucking on my guitar. I gulped hard to avoid embarrassing tears on television.

Still dazed I greeted guest after guest. My sister, who I hadn't seen for six years; old friends now scattered all over the world; friends from Kenya, who only a few weeks earlier I'd been living with - they, too, had kept the secret; Rolf Harris, my oldest friend in the business; Frank Carson, who gave me my first break; Joan Collins, Chet Atkins, my old university professor and even one of my first pupils from my teaching days in Africa. Had I really done so much, I thought?

Then a bonus surprise! From the wings came Brett and we talked briefly about the nine years he'd spent as part of the family. Truly a most poignant moment. He was now six foot four, with a handsome beard, and engaged to be married. As he took his seat I reckoned that was the end of the show, but no, sleepy little Alexander toddled out and flung his arms around me. Then the little ham blew kisses at the audience!

As the title music heralded the end of the show, we took the traditional walk to the front of the stage to wave goodbye - there, surrounded by my friends and family, I was overwhelmed by thoughts of where I was, and how it had all begun. As a drowning man is said to see all life flash before his eyes, so did I, enveloped by the magic of the moment, see in a flash all that had happened to me. It was 'This Is Your Life Roger Whittaker' indeed.

Yes, there had been disappointment along with success; sadness along with joy; some pain, but so much pleasure. I am the fortunate possessor of a treasure house of memories. I have been lucky enough to see many of my dreams come true and realise some good fortune well beyond my dreams. And I have been most fortunate of all to have a wife and children and many good friends with whom to share that good fortune and my happiness.

So far, so good!

Series 22 subjects