Ellaline TERRISS (1871-1971)

Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life

programme details...

  • Edition No: 195
  • Subject No: 196
  • Broadcast live: Mon 7 May 1962
  • Broadcast time: 8.00-8.30pm
  • Venue: BBC Television Theatre
  • Series: 7
  • Edition: 32

on the guest list...

  • Macdonald Hobley
  • Murray King
  • Anton Dolin
  • Godfrey Winn
  • Fred Emney
  • Betty Stuart – daughter
  • Robert Stuart – son
  • Gladys Bowen
  • Margaretta Scott
  • Camille Clifford
  • children from Italia Conti Stage School
  • children from Ada Foster Stage School
  • children from the Corona Stage School
  • Filmed tributes:
  • Ralph Richardson
  • Margaret Lockwood
  • Peter Ustinov
  • Gladys Cooper
  • P G Woodhouse
  • Zena Dare

production team...

  • Researcher: Alfred Draper
  • Writer: Alfred Draper
  • Director: Michael Goodwin
  • Producer: T Leslie Jackson
  • names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
  • with thanks to Lucia Stuart for her contribution to this page
related pages...
Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Big Red Book

Photographs of Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Ellaline Terriss's big red book

Anton Dolin recalls his experience of this edition of This Is Your Life in his autobiography Last Words...


I was in Rome in 1959 when I was telephoned by Eamonn Andrews: ‘Anton, can you come to London for three days, travel and expenses paid, for a This Is Your Life programme?’


‘Who is it, Eamonn?’ I asked. ‘Because if it’s me, no I will never appear. Too many of my friends are gone.’


‘Anton, I give you my word, it is not you. Though I’ll get you one day! This Is Ellaline Terriss, Lady Hicks. Everyone will wear white tie and tails. Please come.’


There was now no hesitation on my part, and I agreed. Before the programme Betty Hicks, Ellaline’s daughter, warned me to speak up.


‘Peter,’ she said, calling me by my ‘Bluebell’ name, ‘mother is very deaf, though she will never admit it. So when you say your few words, say them to her direct, loud and clear.’


The programme was beautiful, a regal tribute to a still beautiful person. Afterwards Eamonn invited us all to the VIP room for the showing and refreshments. ‘Lady Hicks,’ he asked, ‘who would you like to be your escort?’


‘My ‘Peter’ dear,’ she replied, ‘for he was the only one I really heard.’


I never told her that I had been briefed by Betty, and it was a very proud ‘Peter’ who took her arm.

Series 7 subjects

Max Bygraves | Mario Borrelli | Alastair Pearson | Brian Rix | Derek Dooley | Elizabeth Twistington Higgins | Sandy MacPherson
Ronald Menday | Harry Day | Peter Finch | Charlie Drake | Timothy Cain | Isabella Woodford | David Park | Sefton Delmer
Coco the Clown | Jenny Gleed | Arthur E Davies | Tom Evans | David Pelham James | Kenneth Horne | Marie Rambert | David Butler
Glen Moody | Kenneth Cooke | Tom Breaks | Dora Bryan | Bob Oatway | Acker Bilk | Hester Meakin | Joe Filliston | Ellaline Terriss