Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Daniel O'Donnell, singer, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of entertainer Bruce Forsyth - on the stage of the London Palladium, following a recording of the ITV variety show, Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

Daniel, who was born and raised in a tiny cottage without running water or a bathroom in a village in County Donegal, Ireland, first began singing in his local chapel choir. He moved to Dublin in 1980 to study business but instead joined his sister's band as a singer.

He recorded his first solo single, My Donegal Shore, in 1983, and later that year, he formed his own band called Country Fever, which was replaced by The Grassroots a year later. His appearances at Irish festivals in London secured him a recording contract, and by the mid-1990s, he was a household name across Ireland and Great Britain with sales of over 3 million records.

"You sure?"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1053
• Subject No: 1028
• Broadcast date: Mon 29 May 2000
• Broadcast time: 8.30-9.00pm
• Recorded: Wed 8 Mar 2000
• Venue: BBC Television Centre
• Series: 40
• Edition: 28
• Code name: Hotel

on the guest list...

• Mary Duff
• members of his band
• Father Brian D'Arcy
• Mary - aunt
• Muriel - aunt
• Oni - uncle
• James - brother
• John - brother
• Margo - sister
• Kathleen - sister
• Julia - mother
• Liz Dawn
• Sarah Mulholland
• Margaret Barrett
• Gloria Hunniford
• Josephine Burke
• P J Sweeney
• Nan Moy
• Mick Clerkin
• Sean Reilly
• Anneka Rice
• Monica McDaid
• Tibi Prodan
• Romanian children
Filmed tributes:
• Loretta Lynn
• Brian McGonagle
• Mary Logue
• Annie McGarvey
• Charlie McBride
• Caroline Aherne
• Cliff Richard

production team...

• Researcher: Ruth Malone
• Writer: Joe Steeples
• Director: unknown
• 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

A Song For Life

it's the singer not the song

Liz Dawn

Screenshots of Daniel O'Donnell This Is Your Life

Daniel O'Donnell recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, My Story...

It was a day to reflect on my life. As I looked back, a whole sea of mixed emotions swept over me. Like a show reel, so many images were going through my mind. I thought back to my early days growing up in Kincasslagh, walking the country roads to school, my first public performances in the local village hall, a great summer working in a Dublin hotel and then a short term in college before I joined my sister Margaret's band. I thought back to my exciting adventure doing my first solo recordings in Big Tom's Studios and then forming my own band. The early struggles on the road as I tried to make my name in showbusiness were so vivid. I laughed out loud as I remembered some of the hilarious moments, like the whole band, including myself, sleeping in one room along the motorway because it was all we could afford at the time. God, it only seemed like yesterday. But now here I was, twenty-odd years - and some would say very odd years - down the line, having packed so much into my life. There were so many incredible events to remember, not least being a This Is Your Life tribute in the year 2000 when Michael Aspel presented me with that famous red book. That was a night to remember, having people I admire, my very own idols, Loretta and Cliff, paying tribute to me. I had come a long way indeed.

The This Is Your Life TV show was very special to me. I had grown up watching it on television when it was presented by our own Eamonn Andrews. I may have had lots of dreams as a youngster, but being the subject of This Is Your Life one day in the future was never among them. I'll never forget the moment it happened. I was a guest entertainer, along with Engelbert Humperdinck, on Bruce Forsyth's variety show from the London Palladium when Michael Aspel sprung the surprise. There was an explosion of applause when Michael arrived on the stage at the end of the performance with his famous red book. Thinking that it was heading in the direction of Engelbert, I stepped back to give Michael a clear run at his target. Instead, imagine my confusion as he made a beeline in my direction. People said to me afterwards that the blood drained from my face at that very moment and my mouth fell open. There were no words coming out of my open gob, just a vacant stare and my head shaking. It was just like a car crash. Suddenly everything was happening in slow motion. In the distance, I could hear Michael Aspel saying, 'Tonight, Daniel O'Donnell, this is your life.' But it still wasn't registering with me. 'Are you sure?' I heard myself, asking. Then the audience burst into laughter. Michael Aspel pointed to the name on the cover of the red book. 'Daniel O'Donnell' it read. I remember watching the reaction of other stars being surprised on This Is Your Life and wondering, did they know? Well, I can tell you, in all honesty, I had no inkling whatsoever that Michael Aspel was going to do a number on me that night. It was the best-kept secret of my life.

It happened on a Wednesday night and I had arrived in London on the Monday after spending two months on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. I didn't go home to Donegal, instead opting to stay over for the Palladium show. When I was on the phone to home, they had told me not to bother ringing any of them on the Wednesday as new phone cabling was being installed in our area. Little did I know that they had all made the trip to London and were in the TV studios waiting for my arrival.

After the initial surprise at the Palladium, I was whisked off to the TV studios where the show is recorded. As I waited in the dressing room, I mentally prepared myself for the emotional rollercoaster that lay ahead. I was determined that I would remain composed no matter what came my way. Needless to say, that didn't work for very long. When the doors opened to reveal the first set of guests, my mother, sisters Kathleen and Margaret and brothers John and James, our emotions just spilled over and we were all tearful. This kind of thing doesn't happen to people like us, I thought. We're a normal family from a small rural area in the north west of Ireland and it was never part of the plan for one of us to be on This Is Your Life. And that wasn't the end of the tears. Before the show closed and after I had received so many moving tributes from people that included neighbours at home as well as a whole host of celebrities, there was another surprise in store for me. The show had flown in several Romanian orphans, my young friends from the homes we have set up through the Romanian Challenge Appeal charity. To have those special people in my life around me at that moment made everything I had done up to that point seem really worthwhile.

After the This Is Your Life post-show party I returned to my hotel in the early hours of the morning, but couldn't sleep. I sat on the bed and wondered if it had really happened. The following morning a car arrived to take me to the airport. The driver asked me who had been featured on This Is Your Life the previous night. 'We-ell, it was me,' I said. But I didn't sound at all certain.

The Mirror 11 March 2000

Daniel's little red booster

THIS IS YOUR LIFE SURPRISE FOR SINGING SAINT

Michael Aspel stepped forward with his big red book and said "Daniel O'Donnell... this is your life," - the Irish crooner replied: "Are you sure?"

Later Daniel confessed that it was a stupid thing to say.

"It sounds so dumb, but I didn't know what to say. I was so overwhelmed and surprised," Daniel said at the after-party.

"When Michael Aspel appeared on stage at the London Palladium, with the Big Red Book, I thought he was going to spring it on Engelbert Humperdinck, who was on stage with me."

"I kept looking at Engelbert to see how he'd react."

"It never dawned on me for a split second I was his target."

Daniel is the latest celebrity to be given the accolade fondly known as the 'Big Red Book'.

His family, from Co Donegal, relatives, neighbours, friends and fans crowded studio eight at the BBC TV Centre in London for the recording.

"There's only a couple of stray dogs and cats roaming Kincasslagh now, everyone seems to be here," Daniel joked.

Cliff Richard, Mrs Merton, Anneka Rice, Gloria Hunniford, Mary Duff, Ritz Records' Mick Clerkin and Daniel's manager Sean Reilly were among the VIP guests.

Derry-born Monica McDaid, founder of The Romanian Challenge Appeal, also flew in from eastern Europe with eight of the orphans from Daniel's halfway homes in Siret.

"People say Daniel is somewhere between a hero and a saint, but I think he's both," said Monica.

Daniel raised 100,000 pounds for Romanian orphans on his recent tour of Australia.

The This Is Your Life tribute will be shown on BBC1 on Monday, April 10.

Sunday Times 12 March 2000

O'Donnell's life paves way for Irish celebs

By: Terry Keane

MICHAEL ASPEL, presenter of the BBC show This Is Your Life pounced on a startled Daniel O'Donnell in London on Wednesday, to present him with the famous red book.

When he recovered from the shock, Daniel was delighted to appear on the show.

Whenever I hear about the long-running programme, I invariably recall the occasion when another Ulsterman, Danny Blanchflower, was approached by Eamonn Andrews to appear, he succinctly told him to "g** a***".

For Daniel the studio audience was packed with adoring female fans. The programme became very moving at the end when eight Romanian orphans appeared on set. The children were there because Daniel supports three orphanages in their country.

Jack Crawshaw, executive producer, would like to have more Irish personalities on the show, especially as he is aware that RTE is considering producing its own version. Maeve Binchy would be the perfect candidate for the big red book, but hubbie Gordon has vetoed it.

Meanwhile, jockey Richard Dunwoody is in for a surprise tomorrow when the TIYL team corner him. He used to ride Flashing Steel, owned by Charles Haughey, whom Crawshaw hopes will be a guest.

Belfast Telegraph 10 April 2000

Daniel gets Life for his singing career

By Staff Reporter

ALL of Donegal will be tuned into BBC1 tonight when the county's favourite son will be surprised by Michael Aspel's Big Red Book.

Daniel O'Donnell, who has had countless hits and sold out concerts all over the world, will receive the performer's ultimate accolade when he hears the magical words "Tonight, Daniel O'Donnell, This Is Your Life." Modest as ever, Daniel said today that when he saw Michael Aspel walk onto the stage of the London Palladium clutching the red book, he assumed it was for Engelbert Humperdinck who was also there, but before he could say "Please Release Me, Let Me Go," he was cornered. Adding to Daniel's special occasion will be goodwill messages from guests Sir Cliff Richard, Anneka Rice, Gloria Hunniford, Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth and television's Mrs Merton, Caroline Aherne.