This Is Your Life: Brigit Forsyth

Brigit FORSYTH (1940-2023)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Brigit Forsyth, actress, was surprised by Michael Aspel while rehearsing for a radio play at BBC Broadcasting House in London.

Brigit, who was born in Edinburgh, initially trained as a secretary before studying drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she won the Emile Littler Award. After graduating, she worked extensively in theatre before finding work in minor roles on television in the late 1960s. In 1972 she appeared in two major ITV drama series, Adam Smith and Holly.

Her big break came in 1973 when she was cast as Thelma in the highly successful BBC television sitcom Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? which ran for two series. Brigit later starred in another BBC sitcom, Sharon and Elsie, and the BBC drama series Playing the Field. And she continued to appear on stage in productions such as The Norman Conquests and in theatre tours of the Far East with Derek Nimmo's company.

"Is this a joke? I don't believe it! What about my cello?"

programme details...

Edition No: 1101
Subject No: 1077
Broadcast date: Wed 24 Apr 2002
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Recorded: Tue 2 Apr 2002
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 42
Edition: 22
Code name: Cello

on the guest list...

Jacquetta May
Lee Warburton
Sue Jenkins
David Fleeshman
Malcolm Hebden
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Ian Kershaw
Malcolm - brother
Chris - brother
Reggie - sister
Ben - son
Zoe - daughter
Melanie Hill
Lorraine Ashbourne
Kelli Hollis
Olivia Caffrey
Chris Walker
Ralph Ineson
Tim Dantay
Annie Raitt
Stephanie Cole
Brian Mills
Kim Hartman
Tony Booth
Stephanie Booth
Patricia Cleveland-Peck
James Ellis
Elizabeth Spriggs
Ricky Tomlinson
William Roache
Mrs Connell - mother
Margie Di Rollo
Dick Clement
Ian La Frenais
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Paula Tilbrook

production team...

Researcher: Kate Greer
Writer: Ian Brown
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

related pages...

the sitcom stars

Brigit Forsyth recalls her experience of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in July 2010

Screenshots of Brigit Forsyth This Is Your Life - and Brigit Forsyth photographed at the studios of BBC Manchester with her big red book in July 2010

Series 42 subjects