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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Floella Benjamin, actress, television presenter and campaigner, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming at the Millennium Dome construction site in London.

Floella was born in Trinidad but moved to England in 1959 when her family decided to emigrate. After leaving school, she worked for Barclays Bank while taking dance lessons and appearing in a band with her family. She became a full-time actress and appeared in the stage musicals Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Black Mikado, the 1977 film Black Joy, and on television in series such as Within These Walls, Mixed Blessings, and Love Thy Neighbour.

In 1976, she became a household name as a regular presenter on the BBC children's programme Play School. She later established her own television production company producing children's programmes. She has written several books, is an active campaigner for various charities, was chairperson of the Women of the Year Lunch, and, as chair of BAFTA Television, created the BAFTA Children's Awards in 1995.

programme details...

• Edition No: 1020
• Subject No: 995
• Broadcast date: Mon 25 Jan 1999
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Sat 23 Jan 1999
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 39
• Edition: 21
• Code name: Bead

on the guest list...

• Precious Wilson
• Trevor Byfield
• Len Murray
• Sydney Samuelson
• Keith Taylor - husband
• Aston - son
• Alvina - daughter
• Brian Cant
• Johnny Ball
• Billy Murray
• Veronica - mother
• Roy - father
• Sandra - sister
• Lester - brother
• Ellington - brother
• Cynthia - sister
• Olive - aunt
• Peggy Spencer
• John Scotcher
• Richard O'Brien
• Rudolph Walker
• Doreen Lawrence
• Anne Gobey
• Tony Hart
• Anton Edelmann
• Roger Cook
• Roy Jr - brother
• Joan - sister-in-law
• Veronica - niece
• Arlee - nephew
Filmed tributes:
• Paul Nicholas
• Paul Barber
• Lady Lothian

related appearances...

• Rudolph Walker - Nov 1999
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• Desmond Wilcox - May 2000
• Roger Cook - Apr 2003

production team...

• Researchers: Jo Grant, Steven Lappin
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Directors: John Gorman, Paul Kirrage
• 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

Presenting Life

celebrating the hosts

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Roger Cook

Paul Nicholas

Rudolph Walker

Screenshots of Floella Benjamin This Is Your Life