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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Elizabeth Spriggs, actress, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming a scene for the film Alice in Wonderland at Shepperton Studios.

Elizabeth, who was born in Buxton, took up acting with an amateur dramatics group in Coventry while working as a lab assistant and dental nurse before teaching speech and drama at Coventry Technical College. After joining the Stockport Repertory Company in 1953, she worked with other companies, including Birmingham and Bristol, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1962.

From the mid-1970s, she became a familiar face on television, appearing in dramas such as The Glittering Prizes, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, and Martin Chuzzlewit. She later played the formidable Nan in the ITV comedy series Shine on Harvey Moon.

"Oh Michael! Did you all know about this? Oh, I bet you did!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1011
• Subject No: 986
• Broadcast date: Mon 23 Nov 1998
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Fri 2 Oct 1998
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 39
• Edition: 12
• Code name: Holly

on the guest list...

• Peter Byrne
• Philip Madoc
• Tenniel Evans
• Leonard Fenton
• Patsy Byrne
• Murray - husband
• Wendy - daughter
• Chris - son-in-law
• James Ellis
• Lesley Sharp
• Jo McInnes
• Chris Walker
• Ralph Ineson
• Ken - brother
• Elwyn - sister
• Joyce Farland
• Reg Percival
• Joan Hodge
• Rick Reeves
• Eamon Boland
• Larry Lamb
• Lee Whitlock
• Philip Franks
• Robert Hardy
Filmed tributes:
• Glenn Close
• Jeremy Irons
• David and family - brother
• Peter Hall
• Judi Dench
• Kenneth Cranham
• Maggie Steed
• Linda Robson

related appearances...

• Sue Nicholls - Nov 1996
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• Kay Mellor - Mar 2000
• James Ellis - Jan 2001
• Brigit Forsyth - Apr 2002

production team...

• Researcher: Steve Lappin
• Writer: Joe Steeples
• Directors: John Gorman, Steve Docherty
• 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

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

James Ellis

Screenshots of Elizabeth Spriggs This Is Your Life