Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Michael Aspel, now firmly recognisable as the keeper of the big red book, settled into his own style of presenting the iconic programme, as This Is Your Life returned for its 30th series in its familiar slot in the ITV schedules - Wednesday at 7pm.
The production team revisited Hollywood, with three of the year's editions recorded there, while another American film great was surprised back at Teddington Studios.
In the first acknowledgement of a same-sex relationship, the production team issued a post-credit apology to an actor for failing to include mention of his late male partner in the programme.
The series ends with an hour-long bank holiday special to a popular comedian to celebrate what is billed as 'the 500th Thames edition'. The actual 500th edition featured a racing driver and was broadcast much earlier, in February 1989.
related pages...
Hollywood in the spotlight
the special editions
the studio look and locations
the show's fifty year history
A TV Times quiz on the programme's code names
How Eamonn carved a life from insecure beginnings
The Stage reviews the book For Ever and Ever, Eamonn
You Thought You Were Here To...
A TV Guide feature celebrating the programme's 500th edition
| Omar SHARIF | Actor | 25 October 1989 |
| Sarah BRIGHTMAN | Soprano singer and actress | 1 November 1989 |
| Yvonne CORMEAU | Former Special Operations Executive agent | 8 November 1989 |
| Cyril SMITH | Politician | 15 November 1989 |
| Jean BOHT | Actress | 22 November 1989 |
| Zsa Zsa GABOR | Actress | 29 November 1989 |
| Alec MCCOWEN | Actor | 6 December 1989 |
| Barbara CARTLAND | Novelist | 13 December 1989 |
| Douglas FAIRBANKS Jr | Actor | 20 December 1989 |
| William SHATNER | Actor | 27 December 1989 |
| Barbara TAYLOR BRADFORD | Novelist | 3 January 1990 |
| Elizabeth DAWN | Actress | 10 January 1990 |
| Billy WRIGHT | Former footballer | 17 January 1990 |
| Trevor MCDONALD | Journalist and newsreader | 24 January 1990 |
| Stephanie BEACHAM | Actress | 31 January 1990 |
| Simon WESTON | British Army veteran | 7 February 1990 |
| Peter SCUDAMORE | National Hunt jockey | 14 February 1990 |
| Peter CUSHING | Actor | 21 February 1990 |
| David SHEPHERD | Artist and conservationist | 28 February 1990 |
| Harry SECOMBE | Comedian, actor and singer | 7 March 1990 |
| Nigel KENNEDY | Violinist | 14 March 1990 |
| Eluned WILLIAMS | National Children's Home Sister | 21 March 1990 |
| Billy MARSH | Theatrical agent | 28 March 1990 |
| Bob HOLNESS | Radio and television presenter | 4 April 1990 |
| Bobby DAVRO | Comedian and impressionist | 11 April 1990 |
| Michael BALDOCK | Milkman | 18 April 1990 |
| Ken DODD | Comedian, singer and actor | 7 May 1990 |
Broadcast details
Thames Television production for ITV27 editions | 26 x 30 minutes | 1 x 60 minutes
Wednesday | 7.00pm x 26
Monday | 8.30pm x 1
Production team
Created by: Ralph Edwards - Ralph Edwards ProductionsProducer: Malcolm Morris | Associate Producer: John Graham
Directors: Brian Klein, Paul Kirrage, John Birkin | Writers: Roy Bottomley, Norman Giller
Researchers: Sue Green, Mandy Nixon, Elizabeth Ross, Tom Wettengel, Claire Jenkinson, Louise Clover
Programme Consultant: Roy Bottomley | Production Assistants: Irene Clark, Ellie Gleave
Programme Organisers: Angela Kennedy, Mandy Lee
Designers: Jane Moorfoot, Jack McAdam | Film Research: Susan Tiplady
Engineering Managers/Studio Supervisors: Frank Taylor, Peter Ernster, John Moore, Norman Andrews, Nigel Spong
Lighting Directors: Bill Minto, Luigi Bottone, David Motture, John O'Brien, Bob Newman, Patrick Day, Clive Gulliver
Peter Bower, Jim Robson, Graham Jaggers, Christopher Davies, Allen Harradine
Senior Cameramen: Peter Howell, Peter Shaw, David Bradbury, Adrian J Fearnley, Peter Hodgson
Sound Supervisors: Peter Stoddart, Brian Hibbert, Nick Pratt, Miles Weiner, Peter Ball, Peter Willcocks
Ian Parkinson, Stan Lee, Richard Bradford, Brian Moray, Clive Sweet
Vision Control: Ian Jones, Richard Waiting, Andy Newton, Allan James, Eric Donbavand, Bill Marley, Ian Coram, Jim Fergus-Smith
Vision Mixers: Martin Perrett, Peter Phillips, Linda Anthony, Peter Boffin
Videotape Editors: Dave Lewington, John Sharland, Colin Bocking, Terence E Badham, Nick Ames
Dave Lewington, Roger Holmes, Tom Kavanagh,
Make-up Supervisors: Dianne Millar, Pearl Rashbrass, Christine Morrell, Sue Milton
Wardrobe Supervisors: Linda Fleckney-Clark, Noreen Ingham
Floor Managers: Aidan Boulter, Francesca Boulter, Michael Jelves, Frank Gervasi, Peter Beaven, David Downing
Sue Cowling, Ian Galley, Tony Tyrer, John Lopes, Peter Errington, Kerry Mann