Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Charlie DRAKE (1925-2006)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Charlie Drake, comedian, actor, writer and singer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the London Palladium, while discussing plan’s for the theatre’s forthcoming pantomime.
After serving in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, Charlie set his sights on a show business career, honing his stand up comedy routine in pubs and clubs across the country.
After making his television début in The Centre Show in 1953, he then joined his wartime comrade Jack Edwardes to form a double act, named 'Mick and Montmorency' – appealing more to a younger audience, they appeared regularly on various children’s television shows during the mid 1950s.
After dissolving the act, Charlie found fame as a comedy star appealing to all age groups with such BBC television series as Drake's Progress, Charlie Drake In..., and The Charlie Drake Show, which included his opening catchphrase "Hello, my darlings!"
Charlie Drake was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions - surprised again by Michael Aspel in October 1995 at London’s Playhouse Theatre.
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Series 7 subjects
Max Bygraves | Mario Borrelli | Alastair Pearson | Brian Rix | Derek Dooley | Elizabeth Twistington Higgins | Sandy MacPherson