Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Bill OWEN MBE (1914-1999)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Bill Owen, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while filming a scene for the BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine in London's Trafalgar Square.
Bill, who was born in Acton, London, began performing in amateur dramatics before turning professional in 1934 when he joined the Cambridge Repertory Theatre. He later spent 12 years with London's Unity Theatre, where he wrote, produced and acted in plays and revues. He appeared in many post-war British films, including several early Carry on films, while on stage he was critically acclaimed for his performances at The Royal Court, and appeared on Broadway during the 1950s.
He had a successful second career as a songwriter during the 1960s, co-writing the lyrics for dozens of pop songs, including Cliff Richard's hit Marianne. But it was television that made him a household name after he landed the role of Compo - the moth-eaten, woolly hat-and-wellies-wearing pensioner lacking in social graces - in the BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine, which began in 1973.
"Dear oh dear! I took it for real! Well, can I go home and change?"
programme details...
- Edition No: 560
- Subject No: 556
- Broadcast date: Wed 7 Jan 1981
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Mon 17 Nov 1980
- Venue: Royalty Theatre
- Series: 21
- Edition: 13
- Code name: Win
on the guest list...
- Robert Dougall
- Leslie Crowther
- Ed Stewart
- Kenneth Wolstenholme
- Reg Gutteridge
- Patrick Moore
- Arthur Mullard
- Peter Sallis
- Katie - wife
- Tom - son
- Kathleen - stepdaughter
- Charlie Burton
- Elsie Burton
- Alfie Bass
- Leonard Sachs
- Charles Hawtrey
- Freddie Davies
- Mary - daughter-in-law
- James - grandson
- William - grandson
- John Metzler Filmed tributes:
- Martin Shaw
- Roy Clarke
- residents of Holmfirth
- Holmfirth Choral Society
related appearances...
- Matthew Kelly - Dec 1983
- Kathy Staff - Mar 1984
- Lionel Bart - Apr 1991
- Derek Fowlds - Mar 1993
- Charles Stewart - Sep 1998
- Frank Thornton - Oct 1998
production team...
- Researchers: Katie Lander, Vivien Lind
- Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
- Directors: Stuart Hall, Terry Yarwood
- Producer: Jack Crawshaw
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
the sitcom stars
Tom Owen, son of Bill Owen, recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in March 2010
Screenshots of Bill Owen This Is Your Life
Series 21 subjects
Joe Loss | Julie Goodyear | Lawrie McMenemy | Peter Bowles | Mike Yarwood | John Schlesinger | Andrew Lloyd WebberJanet Brown | Rodney Bewes | Russell Harty | Joan Wells | Billy Connolly | Bill Owen | Jeffery Archer | Brian Jacks
Melvin Hayes | Fred Housego | Alex Higgins | Tim Brooke-Taylor | Bernard Cribbins | Gemma Craven | Jim Watt
John Thaw | Jonjo O'Neill | Judith Chalmers | Margaret Price