Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Anita Dobson, actress and singer, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming at London's Heathrow Airport.

Anita, who was born in Stepney, London, trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art before joining the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. She later worked in repertory theatre across the UK, including a season with the Palace Theatre, Watford, and in 1983 appeared in the Lyric Hammersmith production of Charley's Aunt, which transferred to London's West End for a record-breaking run. By the early 1980s, she was regularly seen on television, including a stint on the BBC children's programme Play Away.

Her big break came in 1985 when she was cast in BBC television's new soap opera, EastEnders as the emotionally battered and alcoholic landlady Angie Watts - a role which made her a household name. After leaving the soap in 1988, Anita starred in the sitcom Split Ends and appeared in the drama series Hearts and Bones and NCS: Manhunt while continuing to appear on stage in such productions as The Pyjama Game and The Vagina Monologues.

"Oh my... oh my god! Thank you. How wonderful!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1098
• Subject No: 1074
• Broadcast date: Wed 20 Mar 2002
• Broadcast time: 8.20-8.50pm
• Recorded: Fri 8 Mar 2002
• Venue: BBC Television Centre
• Series: 42
• Edition: 19
• Code name: Date

on the guest list...

• Brian May - husband
• Josie Lawrence
• Joan - aunt
• Norman Holland
• Mrs Molyneau-Berry
• Mark St Clair
• Lesley Joseph
• Kate Williams
• Brian Cant
• Griff Rhys Jones
• Gretchen Franklin
• Ross Davidson
• Wendy Richard
• June Brown
• Pam St Clement
• Gillian Taylforth
• Jane How
• Shirley Cheriton
• Letitia Dean
• Samantha Bond
• Michelle Collins
• Laurie Gale
• Ann - mother
Filmed tributes:
• Elaine Paige
• Leslie Grantham
• Henry Goodman
• Amanda Holden

related appearances...

• Jim Davidson - Feb 1984
• Gary Glitter - Jan 1992
• Rula Lenska - Jan 1996
• Gillian Taylforth - Jan 2003

production team...

• Researcher: Melanie Clarkson
• Writer: Joe Steeples
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

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

East End Life

Albert Square's finest

Gillian Taylforth

Interviews

Anita Dobson recalls her experience of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in November 2019

Screenshots of Anita Dobson This Is Your Life - and Anita Dobson photographed in London with her big red book in November 2019