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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

  

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Trevor Bannister, actor, was surprised by Michael Aspel during the curtain call of the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill.

Trevor, who was born in Durrington, Wiltshire, joined a local drama group at 14 before moving to London at 16 to train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. However, his training was interrupted by national service, which he carried out in Nigeria, where he performed with the Garrison Group. After completing his studies, he got occasional roles in bit parts in films such as Reach For the Sky.

His first break in theatre was with a repertory company in Folkestone, and his West End stage debut was in The World of Susie Wong. In 1960, he appeared in the original company of Billy Liar - and later took over the lead role from Albert Finney. His big break on television came in 1969 with the ITV sitcom The Dustbinmen, which led to him being cast as Mr Lucas in the long-running BBC sitcom Are You Being Served? in March 1973.

"Oh my god! What do I say? I'm speechless!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 990
• Subject No: 965
• Broadcast date: Mon 22 Dec 1997
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Sun 14 Dec 1997
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 38
• Edition: 17
• Code name: Stair

on the guest list...

• Kathy Staff
• Simon - son
• Timothy - son
• Jeremy - son
• Pam - wife
• Christopher Biggins
• Henry McGee
• Anna Dawson
• John Boulter
• Brian Budd
• Willie Thorne
• Wayne Sleep
• Wendy Richard
• Mollie Sugden
• Frank Thornton
• John Inman
• Sybil - sister
• Peter - brother-in-law
• John - brother
• Rita - sister-in-law
• Bill Pearson
• Peggy Mount
• Tim Wylton
• Bryan Pringle
• Peter Ellis
• Lynda Baron
• Ray Cooney
Filmed tributes:
• Jack Klugman
• Tony Randall

related appearances...

• Charlie Drake - Nov 1995
• Frank Thornton - Oct 1998
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000

production team...

• Researcher: Avril Norton
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Directors: John Gorman, Steve Docherty
• Associate Producer: Liz Rawlings
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

The Good Life

the sitcom stars

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Christopher Biggins

Ray Cooney

Wayne Sleep

Kathy Staff

Mollie Sugden

Frank Thornton

Screenshots of Trevor Bannister This Is Your Life