This Is Your Life: Thora Hird 2

Dame Thora HIRD (1911-2003)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Thora Hird, actress, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming on location for the BBC television sitcom Last of the Summer Wine in the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth.

Thora, who was born into a theatrical family in Morecambe, began her acting career with her local repertory company before securing contracts with Ealing Film Studios and later the Rank Organisation. She appeared in over 100 films, including her critically acclaimed performance in the 1962 film A Kind of Loving and several television comedies throughout the 1970s and 1980s, such as Hallelujah! and In Loving Memory.

Thora won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress for her roles in two of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads monologues and in the television drama Lost For Words. Despite her old age and ill health, her ongoing television and charity work, including presenting the religious programme Praise Be! on BBC television, made her a national institution.

Thora Hird was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions – previously surprised by Eamonn Andrews in December 1963 at the BBC Television Theatre.

"No! Is it really? Well I mean what are we doing? Are we going to London, or something?"

programme details...

Edition No: 961
Subject No: second timer
Broadcast date: Mon 30 Dec 1996
Broadcast time: 6.50-7.30pm
Recorded: Mon 24 Jul 1996
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 37
Edition: 14
Code name: Praise

on the guest list...

Janette Scott - daughter
William Rademaekers - son-in-law
Kathy Staff
James Torme - grandson
Daisy Torme - granddaughter
Harry Marshall
Archie Collis
Brian Rawlinson
Keith Barron
Christopher Beeny
Patsy Rowlands
Valeta Stalybrass
Liz Barr
Michael Jayston
Victoria Wood
Bill Price
Joan Price
Cynthia Tudor
John Tudor
Most Rev David Hope
Maj Rob Garrad
The Band of the Salvation Army
John Schlesinger
Harry Secombe
Duncan Preston

production team...

Researchers: Jo Grant, Ian Brown
Writer: Ian Brown
Directors: Rick Gardner, Brian Klein
Associate Producer: Sue Green
Executive Producer: Gill Stribling-Wright
Producer: John Graham

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Thora Hird

first tribute

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

Extended Life

the special editions

Harry Secombe

Kathy Staff

Screenshots of Thora Hird This Is Your Life

Thora Hird recalls her experience of This Is Your Life in her book, Our Thora, written with Morris Bright...

...over thirty years later, I'm up in Holmfirth on location with Last of the Summer Wine, standing outside the house that doubles for my cottage in the show, filming a piece with my screen husband Gordon Wharmby and a few others, including Peter Sallis who plays Clegg. Suddenly Michael Aspel appears and I think, I wonder who he could be here for. It can't be me, they've done me already.

But I was wrong again. Out came the magic words: 'Tonight, Thora Hird, this is your life!' Well, I say 'out came the magic words' but truthfully they didn't come out quite right and Michael appeared to say 'Dora Hird, this is your life!' So to be sure, they filmed that bit again. But it was still all a great surprise.

I've since discovered that several people have had more than one red book tribute over the years. I know Norman Wisdom has had two and I think dear Harry Secombe had three [Bigredbook.info editor: Harry just had the two tributes!]. But apparently they like to leave at least ten years between doing someone again. So if I make it to 100, I'll keep a look out over my shoulder every time I'm out in my bath chair!

The actor Peter Sallis recalls the incident in the same book:

I remember we were all outside the cottage that doubles for Edie's home one day when suddenly Michael Aspel turned up and before we knew it he had thrust his red book in front of her announcing: 'Thora Hird, this is your life!' At least that's what he meant to say. It actually sounded like 'Dora Hird', and he had to record his entrance again. It was still a great surprise to us all and as they whisked her away, I remember shouting out: 'Take me with you!' They cut that bit out!

Series 37 subjects