This Is Your Life: Harry Secombe 2

Sir Harry SECOMBE CBE (1921-2001)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Harry Secombe, comedian, actor and singer, was surprised by Michael Aspel while signing copies of his newly published autobiography at the WH Smith store in Kingston upon Thames.

Harry gained early fame as a member of the successful and influential BBC radio comedy programme, The Goon Show. This led to a career as a comedy actor and singer, appearing in films such as Jet Storm in 1958, and stage musicals such as Pickwick in 1963. He appeared as Mr. Bumble in Carol Reed's film of the stage musical Oliver! in 1968.

He fronted several of his own television light entertainment series throughout the 1970s, including The Harry Secombe Show for the BBC, and Secombe with Music for ITV. He went on to attract new audiences as a presenter of religious programmes, such as the BBC's Songs of Praise and ITV's Stars on Sunday and Highway.

Harry Secombe was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions – previously surprised by Eamonn Andrews in March 1958 outside the BBC Television Theatre.

"Cor struth! Really? What a shock!"

programme details...

Edition No: 777
Subject No: second timer
Broadcast date: Wed 7 Mar 1990
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Sat 17 Feb 1990
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 30
Edition: 20
Code name: Road

on the guest list...

Fred - brother
Carol - sister
Andrew - son
David - son
Judy - daughter-in-law
Katy - daughter
Jenny - daughter
Myra - wife
Harriet - granddaughter
Emily - granddaughter
Sam - grandson
Evelyn Glennie
Bill Ward
Johnny Otterson
Spike Milligan
Norman Vaughan
Alfred Marks
Paddie O'Neil
Davy Jones
Roy Castle
Kiri Te Kanawa
Geraint Evans
John Mogg
Robert Ford
Vera Lynn
Michael Bentine
Tom Jones

production team...

Researcher: Mandy Nixon
Writer: Roy Bottomley
Directors: Brian Klein, John Birkin
Associate Producer: John Graham
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Harry Secombe

first tribute

That's Entertainment

there's no business like it

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

ITV This is Your Life

A special edition celebrating ITV's 21st anniversary

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Birth of Life

the genesis of the programme

Biggest night of all for the big red book

Press coverage for The Night of 1000 Lives

Photographs of Harry Secombe This Is Your Life

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

Michael Aspel presented the Life of Sir Harry Secombe, CBE, in February 1990.

Spike Milligan was there, as was Sir Geraint Evans and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (both former Life subjects). They smiled when Harry's brother, Fred, who became a vicar, told us how Harry, as a youngster, had been too shy to sing in front of an audience. So he used to sing in the family home's outside loo – but with the door open.

The former Goon was knighted in 1981 for charitable services – he has raised more than three million pounds for war widows and orphans.

As 'The Forces' Sweetheart' herself, Dame Vera Lynn, put it on the night, 'Harry is one of the biggest hearted people in show business. I cannot think of anyone more loved.'

Celebrating Secombe: A Tribute to Sir Harry Secombe

Michael Aspel recalls Harry Secombe in Chris Gidney's book, Celebrating Secombe...

It was such a joy to surprise him again on This Is Your Life during his book signing in Kingston. I knew he wouldn't be able to stifle the cry of 'You've done me already!' The recent Night of a 1000 Lives was a wonderful evening and when they told me Harry had arrived and was in his dressing room, I went straight down to say hello. The amazing thing about Harry is that he makes you think you are the one person he would most like to see. He struggled up out of his chair – no, actually leapt really – and embraced me. When he made his entrance on stage there was uproar as all the other guests gave him a standing ovation because he is so loved.

And there are further references to This Is Your Life in the same book...

Another reunion Harry recently attended was that celebrating one of the country's longest-running shows. As the special guest on the BBC's This Is Your Life presentation, The Night of a 1000 Lives, Harry walked on to a standing ovation, and remembering his first appearance on the show in 1958, said, 'I was going on holiday the following day with Eric Sykes, and the last person on earth I expected to meet was Eamonn Andrews.'

Thirty years later Michael Aspel caught him again with the big red book, during a book signing session. 'I'm delighted to be part of the show and I still watch it. There's always that element of surprise that makes it special, particularly when you start coming towards a fellow, wheeling a pram! My favourite programmes are the ones that pay tribute to the unsung heroes. Those are the ones I like best of all. I think it's a great show. Long may it continue, and God bless all who sail in her!'

Series 30 subjects