This Is Your Life: Tessa Sanderson

Tessa SANDERSON MBE (1956-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Tessa Sanderson, javelin thrower and heptathlete, was surprised by Michael Aspel while running an aerobics class at Ashton on Mersey High School in Manchester, having been led to believe it was being filmed for Granada TV's This Morning programme.

Tessa, who was born in Jamaica, was talent spotted by her high school teacher, who noted her talent for athletics and encouraged her to train. Having thrown a javelin for the first time at the age of 14, she went on to win gold medals in the javelin throw at three Commonwealth Games - in 1978, 1986 and 1990.

She made five consecutive appearances at the Olympics, and became the first black British woman to win an Olympic gold medal - at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. She appeared regularly as a guest on various television shows, and joined Sky News as a sport reporter when the channel launched in 1989.

"Oh my god! I can't believe it! Michael! I never thought I'd ever be caught like this!"

programme details...

Edition No: 844
Subject No: 834
Broadcast date: Wed 18 Nov 1992
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Fri 23 Oct 1992
Venue: Granada Studios, Manchester
Series: 33
Edition: 8
Code name: Point

on the guest list...

Derrick Evans - partner
Daley Thompson
Leonard - father
Murphy - mother
Pat - sister
Barbara Richards
Brian Newman
Wilf Paish
Sonia Lannaman
Michael Samuelson
Louise Samuelson
Danny - brother
Eric - brother
Kriss Akabusi
Mary Peters
Emma Samms
Anthony Andrews
Georgina Andrews
Russell Grant
Seb Coe
Jackie Stewart
Ed Moses

production team...

Researcher: Elizabeth Ross
Writer: Roy Bottomley
Directors: Brian Klein, Malcolm Morris
Associate Producer: John Graham
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Going for Gold

celebrating the world's best

Anthony Andrews

Mary Peters

Jackie Stewart

Screenshots of Tessa Sanderson This Is Your Life

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

Olympic pentathlon gold medallist Daley Thompson was Michael Aspel's running mate when we travelled to Manchester to surprise another former gold medallist – and newly crowned javelin world champion.

Tessa Sanderson was giving an aerobics class at Ashton on Mersey High School, for the benefit of the cameras of Granada's Good Morning programme – or so she thought.

Daley Thompson was first to walk into the gym to tell her she had another surprise caller – Michael.

Born in Jamaica, Tessa's parents had gone on ahead to build a home for the family in Wednesfield, Staffordshire. When the time came for Tessa and her sister Pat to join them they had severe worries about the English weather. Pat told us they had heard it was so cold in England that if you touched your ears they would fall off. Their consolation was the discovery of the great British chip.

Olympic team manager Mary Peters, Tessa's own heroine, told us how, despite injury, Tessa had turned the tears of disappointment at the Moscow Olympics into tears of joy and triumph in Los Angeles.

There were a few more tears that night, too.

Series 33 subjects