This Is Your Life: David Berglas

David BERGLAS (1926-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE – David Berglas, magician and mentalist, was surprised by Michael Aspel during the Annual Banquet of the Magic Circle at the Forte Crest Hotel in London's Bloomsbury.

David first became interested in magic in 1947 while studying psychotherapy. In 1952 he became a professional magician securing work in prestigious nightclubs, and a year later he appeared at London's famous Windmill Theatre. This was followed by an extensive tour of all the UK's leading variety theatres and nightclubs.

He was one of the first magicians to appear on British television with his own show Meet David Berglas in 1954, which regularly attracted audiences of over 19 million viewers. In the 1970s he presented a one-hour television special from Las Vegas and in the 1980s he caused a sensation with his Channel 4 series The Mind of David Berglas. He was President of The Magic Circle from 1989.

"I think something has gone wrong here tonight because normally it's me who fools other people!"

programme details...

Edition No: 821
Subject No: 811
Broadcast date: Wed 25 Dec 1991
Broadcast time: 5.55-6.25pm
Recorded: Sat 16 Nov 1991
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 32
Edition: 11
Code name: Deck

on the guest list...

Jonathan Pendragon
Charlotte Pendragon
Ted Rogers
Ruth Madoc
Paul Daniels
Debbie McGee
Ruth - wife
Peter - son
Marvin - son
Irena - daughter
Gaby - sister
Dr John Buckman
Mike Einhorn
Louis Goodman
Bill Maynard
John Fisher
Geoffrey Durham
Anthea Turner
Ron Moody
Harold Taylor
Billy McComb
Bert Weedon
Davy Kaye
Wyn Calvin
Henry Cooper
Michael Bailey
Marsha Radcliffe
John MacGregor
Uri Geller
Brian Johnston
Hans Moretti
Helga Moretti

production team...

Researcher: Mandy Nixon
Writers: Norman Giller, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Brian Klein, Paul Kirrage
Associate Producer: John Graham
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

With thanks to David Berglas and Martin Hart for their contribution to this page

related pages...

That's Entertainment

there's no business like it

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

How We Kept The Secret

TV Times interviews recent subjects

David Berglas recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in a series of interviews filmed by Martin Hart, and included here with his kind permission

David Berglas This Is Your Life Big Red Book

Screenshots of David Berglas This Is Your Life - and a photograph of David Berglas's big red book

Series 32 subjects