This Is Your Life: Godfrey Winn

Godfrey WINN (1906-1971)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Godfrey Winn, journalist, writer and actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC’s Broadcasting House while recording the programme Housewives’ Choice.

Godfrey’s career began as a boy actor at London’s Haymarket Theatre. He went on to write a number of novels and biographical works, and from 1936 became a star columnist for the Daily Mirror and the Sunday Express newspapers, where he wrote "Dear Abby" articles for lovelorn women.

In 1939 Godfrey was the first British war correspondent to cross the Maginot Line. He served as a Royal Navy able seaman, during the Second World War, on HMS Ganges. After the war he wrote numerous books and magazine articles, and appeared on radio and television as well as in films. He frequently compered the BBC Radio show Housewives' Choice, with David Jacobs, from the early 1950s.

programme details...

Edition No: 162
Subject No: 163
Broadcast date: Mon 1 May 1961
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Recorded: Wed 12 Apr 1961 8.30pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 6
Edition: 33

on the guest list...

Cecil Parker
Joan Penny
Annie Wallace
Ginger Bailey DFC DFM
Wilfred Smith
Alan Bonner
Laurence O'Cleary
Maurice Levinson
Jimmy Hanley
Victor Burgess
Jean Burgess
Peter Burgess

production team...

Researcher: Shirley Macnab
Writer: John Sandilands
Director: Michael Goodwin
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

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