Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Bill FRASER (1908-1987)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Bill Fraser, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at London's Royalty Theatre, having been led to believe he was there to take part in an interview about his 50 years in show business.
Bill, who was born in Perth, began his career as a bank clerk before starting to act. After working with a theatre company in Broadstairs and touring India, he set up a repertory theatre in Worthing at the age of only 25. During the Second World War, he served as a signals officer in the Royal Air Force.
As a dramatic actor, Bill worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. However, he specialised in comedy, and his role as Snudge in both the ITV sitcom The Army Game, which began in 1957, and the later spin-off series Bootsie and Snudge in 1960 made him a household name.
"I'll get my breath back first of all..."
programme details...
- Edition No: 575
- Subject No: 571
- Broadcast date: Wed 21 Oct 1981
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Tue 6 Oct 1981
- Venue: Royalty Theatre
- Series: 22
- Edition: 2
- Code name: Shoes
on the guest list...
- Harry Fowler
- Frank Williams
- Michael Medwin
- Robert Dorning
- Clive Dunn
- Fenella Fielding
- Lesley Duff
- Victoria Burgoyne
- Richard Murdoch
- Hattie Brooks
- Harry Dawson
- Leslie Serotti
- Charles Hawtrey
- Lance Percival
- Reg Varney
- Alfie Bass
- Pamela Cundell - wife
- Catherine - stepdaughter
- Stuart - stepson-in-law
- Raymond Francis
- Ronald Rich
- Susan Hampshire
- Tommy Cooper
- Henry Knowles
- Dorothy White
- Terry Dudley
- John Stone
- Ann Firbank
- Coral Atkins
- Martyn Read
- Richard Willis
- Thora Hird
- Eric Sykes Filmed tribute:
- Denis Norden
related appearances...
- Alfie Bass - Mar 1970
- Clive Dunn - Mar 1971
- ITV This Is Your Life - Sep 1976
- Eric Sykes - Dec 1979
- Bernard Miles - Jan 1985
- Johnnie Johnson - May 1985
production team...
- Researcher: Vivien Lind
- Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
- Directors: Paul Stewart Laing, Terry Yarwood
- Producer: Jack Crawshaw
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
it's all about the comedy
A special edition celebrating ITV's 21st anniversary
Screenshots of Bill Fraser This Is Your Life
Series 22 subjects
Bob Champion | Bill Fraser | Wayne Sleep | Ian Botham | Cannon and Ball | Rob Buckman | Angela RipponJulia McKenzie | Jackie Milburn | Paul Shane | Peter Adamson | Kiri Te Kanawa | Mickie Most | Anita Harris
Mike Brace | Faith Brown | Robin Bailey | Rod Hull | Bob Monkhouse | John Toshack | Wally Herbert
Joe Gormley | Roger Whittaker | Alan Whicker | Peter Davison | Douglas Bader