This is Your Life

[frame69]

Sorry,had a look but cant find a topic on this,is there one?

Frame.

[Gerald Lovell]

It's not really British Television, but I was in the audience for the US version of THIS IS YOUR LIFE in LA when they did Dick Van Dyke about 1987. Apparently, THIS IS YOUR LIFE was only infrequently made there at that time, but the presenter was Ralph Edwards, the originator himself. Sadly Mr. Edwards was a bit past it and kept muddling his lines. Mr. Van Dyke had to act surprised umpteen times for each take! Nice to see Sheldon Leonard there though.

[darrenburnfan]

I remember seeing the This Is Your Life a while back with George Baker as the subject, who was then riding high as Inspector Wexford. They ran a clip of George and his leading lady Sylvia Syms in The Moonraker, which they made in 1957. After the clip, Sylvia Syms came on, gave George a big hug and exclaimed: "Oh, George, whatever has happened to us? We were so young and beautiful back then."

[frame69]

Thanks for the replies,I asked as when sorting out my videos to go in the library I found an episode with Laurel and Hardy long forgotten in my attick.(usa version) I dont usually find footage of these two.

[EHV_Emmetts]

The British version was hosted for many years by the former boxing commentator Eamon Andrews.

[Gerald Lovell]

name='EHV_Emmetts']The British version was hosted for many years by the former boxing commentator Eamon Andrews.

I think Eamonn Andrews was one of the few subjects that were "done" twice. The very first British edition turned the tables on him and Ralph Edwards acted as presenter. They caught Eamonn again in the 70s, I think, and David Nixon acted as presenter that evening.

[Husky]

IIRC Richard Gordon (author of the Doctor... series), who was to be the subject of one episode, refused to take part when surprised by Eamonn.

[Husky]

name='frame69']Thanks for the replies,I asked as when sorting out my videos to go in the library I found an episode with Laurel and Hardy long forgotten in my attick.(usa version) I dont usually find footage of these two.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdgegW5Xmp0]YouTube - This Is Your Life Laurel & Hardy[/ame]

[wadsy]

I remember vividly the one where Frank Windsor was "in his cups".



There were two old acquaitances from his past & he was reeling about saying that



he'd never heard of them. His wife looked really embarrassed.

[frame69]

name='Husky']YouTube - This Is Your Life Laurel & Hardy

This is the one I have on video,also have another with them doing public safety films.

[CaptainWaggett]

name='wadsy']I remember vividly the one where Frank Windsor was "in his cups".



There were two old acquaitances from his past & he was reeling about saying that



he'd never heard of them. His wife looked really embarrassed.

They might not have actually been acquaintances - Private Eye used to run stories about hapless researchers having to hang around theatre pubs trying to persuade actors it was worth a free meal to pretend to be Gareth Hunt's best mate.

[EHV_Emmetts]

The 'victim' wasn't suppose to know that their life story was to be shown on this programme. However, some knew well in advance that they were going to appear on the show - the most notable was Muhammad Ali.

[will.15]

Unfortunateky, the Laurel and Hardy youtube episode appears to be edited quite a bit as it doesn't include scenes that are supposed to be in it like a high school girl friend of Oliver Hardy. It almost didn't get on the air as Laurel didn't want to do it (I don't blame him) and it took a long time to persuade him as the studio audience waited.

[Ray]

name='Husky']IIRC Richard Gordon (author of the Doctor... series), who was to be the subject of one episode, refused to take part when surprised by Eamonn.

He wasn't happy about it, but the show did go ahead. I remember the cast of the TV series, Doctor in the House being among the guests.



Footballer, Danny Blanchflower was one celebritiy who DID walk out, I can't recall any others, although there were quite a few who looked less than pleased when they were "surprised" with the Big Red Book.

[winsfordtown]

Around the time Phil Collins appeared on the show my mate was working on the post show catering and one of the production staff told him Thames would be informed privately by a star's management that their client wouldn't be interested

[Steve Crook]

name='winsfordtown']Around the time Phil Collins appeared on the show my mate was working on the post show catering and one of the production staff told him Thames would be informed privately by a star's management that their client wouldn't be interested

I would imagine that there are quite a few people who told them to bugger off - especially the "real people" (not performers or politicians who want the publicity). The show, and the person, would be unlikely to advertise the fact that they'd refused to appear



Steve

[wadsy]

name='Ray']He wasn't happy about it, but the show did go ahead. I remember the cast of the TV series, Doctor in the House being among the guests.



Footballer, Danny Blanchflower was one celebritiy who DID walk out, I can't recall any others, although there were quite a few who looked less than pleased when they were "surprised" with the Big Red Book.

I'm pretty sure the Richard Gordon one was shown a week later & the one that



was cancelled was replaced by a recorded one of Sam Kydd.

[Mark O]

In her biography Jean 'Hilda Ogden' Alexander let it be known to Granada's publicity office that she would take no part in this programme.



Rita Webb was another much loved actress who didn't want to know also, there's a small article about here under 'Jeffie'.........



Welcome to Rita's Bleedin' Webbsite!

[Brief Encounter]

Bruce Forsyth also let it be known to his agent he would not do the show.

[Pye]

It is odd I think why people wouldn't want to do it? It wasn't exactly "and now we turn to your tabloid hell a few years ago..." was it?