26 February 1956

Henry - a porter at Billingsgate Market - had struggled to find work during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and had served with the Royal Artillery during the Second World War.
He was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre.

24 December 1956

The cleaner and devoted mother was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith.
The tribute brought together Mrs Fairman's family in the first Christmas-themed edition of This Is Your Life, as each relative brought her a present to place under the Christmas tree.

23 December 1957

In a rare broadcast outside of London, the retired seamstress was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the BBC Studios in Manchester.
This edition of This Is Your Life raised the issue of loneliness at Christmas time, and Lucy was chosen as a subject because she otherwise 'would have been lonely on Christmas Day'.

24 February 1958

Eamonn surprised the retired schoolmaster in the assembly hall at Queen's College in Taunton, from where the programme was then broadcast. 'Dapper', who had himself been a pupil at the college, taught generations of boys for almost fifty years. In a first, the This Is Your Life book was decorated for the occasion - in the school colours: white, black and old gold.

24 November 1958

In another outside broadcast, Eamonn surprised the retired tinplate worker and councillor at the BBC Television Studios in Cardiff.
John, who was born and had lived in Llanelli all his life, began working in his local tin mine at the age of 12 and spent almost 60 years in that industry, as well as devoting his time to civic welfare, becoming Mayor of Llanelli.

4 May 1959

The head teacher of the Royal Residential School for the Deaf in Old Trafford, Manchester, was surprised by Eamonn outside the BBC Television Theatre.
Ethel had advised on Mandy, the 1952 Ealing film about a young deaf girl, and was greeted by the film's young star, Mandy Miller and the director Leslie Norman.

12 October 1959

Eamonn surprised the traveller and entrepreneur outside the BBC Television Theatre.
Louis, described as a 'rolling stone' and a most extraordinary, ordinary character, had worked as a chauffeur, bit-part actor, snake charmer and antique dealer, among other jobs, and was well-travelled, having recently built a motel in Mexico!

19 October 1959

The pioneering retired civil aviation pilot was surprised by Eamonn in the foyer of the BBC's Lime Grove studios.
O P - well-known for his skill and calm in tricky situations - was responsible for raising the status of the airline pilot to a dignified and professional standard with his dress and attitude.

26 December 1960

Eamonn surprised the recently retired postman from Gosforth at the BBC Television Theatre. Through his long career with the GPO, Richard became a well liked and respected member of the local community. Stories of his kindness and helfulness were recalled by his guests, who, in keeping with the seasonal broadcast, each brought Richard a Christmas present.

1 January 1962

The senior official with the National Coal Board, who as a miner in 1950 had been hailed a hero in an Ayrshire mine disaster, was surprised by Eamonn on board a flight from Edinburgh to London.

22 January 1962

Jenny – known to her locals as Limehouse Jenny and notorious for keeping order in her pub - was surprised by Eamonn behind the bar of the Oporto Arms, in London's West India Dock Road.

30 October 1962

Eamonn surprised the former chauffeur - on the occasion of his diamond wedding anniversary - in the audience at the BBC's Costa Green studios in Birmingham.
Arthur spent fifty years in service with the Fielden family at Kineton House, Warwickshire; first as a groom, then coachman and finally chauffeur.

4 December 1962

The Irish republican - described as a painter and decorator - was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at Dublin's RTE Studios, where the tribute was then recorded.
Stephen was the father of prolific writers Brendan, Brian and Dominic Behan.

19 March 1963

The night watchman and blood donor, was surprised by Eamonn in the BBC Television Theatre.

2 April 1963

Eamonn surprised the unemployed craftsman from Hartlepool outside the BBC Television Theatre.
Victor - who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War - had recently been featured on a BBC documentary programme called 'Waiting for work', which highlighted the suffering caused by high unemployment in Hartlepool.

22 April 1970

Teacher and educationalist.

4 February 1981

The London taxi driver - who gained celebrity status after winning the BBC television quiz show Mastermind - was surprised by a heavily disguised Eamonn who hailed his cab at Waterloo Station, and requested a ride to the Royalty Theatre where Fred's tribute was then recorded. Mastermind's question master Magnus Magnusson was a guest.

18 April 1990

Michael was up and about bright and early in order to catch the milkman on his regular round in the Essex town of Epping.
Michael - a milkman for the past 23 years - was greeted on film by Coronation Street's Julie Goodyear and footballer Tony Adams with his Arsenal FC team mates.

25 March 1992

The North Yorkshire farmer, and subject of several television documentaries, was surprised by Michael while signing copies of her newly published book at the Waterstones store in Kingston upon Thames.
The great and good of Yorkshire come together to pay tribute to the spinster who battled poverty and hardship to single-handedly maintain her 80-acre Pennine farm.

24 February 1993

In 1980 the school choir of St Winifred's Roman Catholic Primary School in Stockport released a song which became that year's Christmas number one single – There's No-one Quite Like Grandma.
Michael travelled north to surprise the school's headmistress, whose 30 year career at the school was acknowledged on the tribute by a letter from the Pope.

9 February 1994

Another excursion for Michael, this time to the Oxfordshire village of Charlton-on-Otmoor, to surprise a retired bus conductress recently awarded an MBE for her services to transportation. Phyllis had worked for the Charlton Service bus company from 1942 until her retirement on Christmas Eve 1993, and was famous for her personal touch with passengers.

15 September 1997

The Welsh cleaner - who became a reality television star after appearing in the BBC docuseries Driving School - was surprised by Michael at a central London car wash. Maureen - who became a household name in Britain after spending hundreds of pounds on lessons and failing the practical driving test several times - was greeted by racer driver Stirling Moss.

7 September 1998

Michael enlisted the help of the Rowntree Brass Band to surprise the road sweeper in the Yorkshire village of Heslington. Charles - who had recently turned 80 and had been awarded with the MBE - was treated to messages from the cast of his favourite sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine, and introduced to one of his idols - cricket umpire Dickie Bird.

27 February 2003

The headteacher of St Paul's Primary School, Portsmouth, had just received the 2002 National Teaching Awards Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, when Michael presented his own award – the big red book!
Among Elizabeth's guests are Lord Puttnam and Michael Morpurgo.