Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Following months of press speculation about the future of This Is Your Life, Thames Television announced that the programme would return to screens in the autumn of 1988.
And so, This Is Your Life was back - for its 29th series - with littering new titles, a new variation of the theme tune and a new presenter, the former subject Michael Aspel.
Michael recorded his first This Is Your Life as the new presenter in September 1988 – surprising a musician and actor in London's Covent Garden.
However, the first of Michael's subjects broadcast was a Hollywood and Broadway legend who, only four years before, had received the US version of the Big Red Book.
In a shorter than usual series - with all but four editions recorded from the new set at Teddington Studios, without sliding doors - This Is Your Life discarded some of its traditional formalities, and the presentation style is more relaxed.
In one edition and a first for This Is Your Life, Michael Aspel, who had worked with the subject many times before, interviewed himself as a guest!
related pages...
a career review
the iconic titles and theme tunes
the studio look and locations
the programme's icon
the show's fifty year history
Press speculation and announcements on new presenter Michael Aspel
TV Times interviews new presenter Michael Aspel
Secrets Of 'Life': The ones who got away
Producer Malcolm Morris exposes some production secrets to TV Times
The day we lost The Big Red Book
Further secrets revealed by producer Malcolm Morris
Eamonn Andrews by Tom Brennand
Press reviews of the former scriptwriter's new book
Woman's Own interviews Lizzie Power - wife of Michael Aspel
The children of Eamonn Andrews remember him in a feature for Woman's Own
| Mickey ROONEY | Actor | 19 October 1988 |
| Phil COLLINS | Musician, singer-songwriter and actor | 26 October 1988 |
| Paul DANIELS | Magician and television presenter | 2 November 1988 |
| Tom FINNEY | Former footballer | 9 November 1988 |
| Esther RANTZEN | Journalist and television presenter | 16 November 1988 |
| Richard TODD | Actor | 23 November 1988 |
| Engelbert HUMPERDINCK | Singer | 30 November 1988 |
| Barry MCGUIGAN | Boxer | 7 December 1988 |
| Robert MAXWELL | Media tycoon and former politician | 14 December 1988 |
| Harry CORBETT | Puppeteer and entertainer | 21 December 1988 |
| Cliff MORGAN | Former rugby player and television executive | 28 December 1988 |
| Roy HUDD | Comedian, actor and presenter | 4 January 1989 |
| Claire RAYNER | Nurse, journalist, broadcaster and novelist | 11 January 1989 |
| Cyril Bertram MILLS | Circus owner | 18 January 1989 |
| Dora BRYAN | Actress | 25 January 1989 |
| Margaret HAYLES | Charity founder | 1 February 1989 |
| Denis HEALEY | Politician | 8 February 1989 |
| Gillian LYNNE | Choreographer and dancer | 15 February 1989 |
| Nigel MANSELL | Racing driver | 22 February 1989 |
| Su POLLARD | Actress and singer | 1 March 1989 |
Broadcast details
Thames Television production for ITV20 editions | 20 x 30 minutes
Wednesday | 7.00pm
Production team
Created by: Ralph Edwards - Ralph Edwards ProductionsProducer: Malcolm Morris | Directors: Brian Klein, David Clark | Writers: Roy Bottomley, Norman Giller
Researchers: Caroline Blackadder, Sue Green, Tom Wettengel, Claire Jenkinson, Louise Clover, David N Mason, Joanna Stewart
Programme Consultant: Roy Bottomley | Production Assistants: Irene Clark, Ellie Gleave
Programme Organisers: Angela Kennedy, Mandy Lee, Joanna Wood | Designer: Jane Moorfoot | Film Research: Susan Tiplady
Studio Supervisors: Nigel Spong, Peter Ernster, Del Randall, Brian Kerr, Dick Hibberd
Lighting Directors: John O'Brien, David Motture, Allen Harradine, Luigi Bottoni, Stuart Gain, Peter Bower, Graham Jaggers
Senior Cameramen: Peter Shaw, Mike Solomans, Tony Roques, Mike Hobbs, Peter Howell, Albert Almond
Adrian J Fearnley, Chas Watts, Gerry Whitney
Sound Supervisors: Peter Stoddart, Brian Hibbert, Peter Ball, Clive Sweet, Richard Churchill, Peter Willcocks, Phil White,
Vision Control: Ian Jones, Bob Mason, David Harvey, Bill Marley, Jim Fergus-Smith, Ian Coram
Richard Waiting, Allan James, Dave Tilbury
Vision Mixers: Peter Turl, Martin Perrett, Peter Phillips, Peter Boffin, Janice Reed, Kenneth Angus
Videotape Editors: Roger Holmes, Dave Lewington, Nick Ames, Colin Bocking, Tom Kavanagh, Terence E Badham
Make-up Supervisors: Christine Morrell, Mary Hillman, Pauline Gyertson | Wardrobe Supervisor: Debbie Leon
Floor Managers: Aidan Boulter, Michael Jelves, Fizz Waters, Peter Beaven, Patrick Vance, John Lopes, Les Davis, Nick Hurran
Production Team: Christina Hatt, Angela Kennedy, Elizabeth Ross, Deborah Armstrong, Christina Hatt