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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Anna Neagle, actress, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Royal National Hotel in London's Russell Square during a reception to celebrate the success of the pantomime Cinderella, which had recently ended its run at the Richmond Theatre.

Under the guidance of her husband, producer-director Herbert Wilcox, Anna became a star of British films for almost two decades, providing glamour and sophistication in musicals, comedies and historical dramas, including Victoria the Great, Spring in Park Lane and Odette.

She later returned to her theatrical roots - having started her career as a chorus line dancer - in the long-running show, Charlie Girl, a 1965 production that ran with Anna for nearly six years.

Anna Neagle was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions – previously surprised by Eamonn Andrews in February 1958 at the BBC Television Theatre.

"Oh no, you can't do that!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 620
• Subject No: second timer
• Broadcast date: Wed 9 Mar 1983
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Wed 2 Mar 1983
• Venue: Royalty Theatre
• Series: 23
• Edition: 21
• Code name: Spring

on the guest list...

• cast members of Cinderella
• Lionel Blair
• Susannah York
• Rodney Bewes
• Elizabeth Bennett - niece
• Tony Bennett
• Nicky Bennett
• Diana Bennett
• Michael Robertson - nephew
• Jill Robertson
• Kate Robertson
• David Robertson
• Joyce Wright
• Dorothy Wood
• Olaf Olsen
• Ray Milland
• Peter Graves
• Derek Nimmo
• Joe Brown
• Evelyn Laye
• Tony Britton
• Odette Hallowes
• Peter Ustinov

related appearances...

• Jessie Matthews - Apr 1961
• Ben Lyon - Mar 1963
• Joe Brown - Dec 1970
• John Alderton - Feb 1974
• Ray Cooney - Jan 1975
• Cyril Fletcher - Mar 1977
• Cathleen Nesbitt - May 1980
• Susannah York - Nov 1983
• Danny La Rue - Apr 1984
• Donald Sinden - May 1985
• Gerry Marsden - Dec 1985

production team...

• Researcher: Michael Waterhouse
• Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
• Directors: Paul Stewart Laing, Terry Yarwood
• Producer: Malcolm Morris

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

Anna Neagle

first tribute

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

Lionel Blair

Tony Britton

Joe Brown

Evelyn Laye

Ray Milland

Peter Ustinov

Susannah York

Screenshots of Anna Neagle This Is Your Life