Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Johanna Harris, British Red Cross nurse, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre.

"A wonderful dream that I shall never forget in my life... thank you for the very great pleasure you have given to my friends"

programme details...

• Edition No: 6
• Subject No: 6
• Broadcast live: Sun 1 Jan 1956
• Broadcast time: 7.50-8.20pm
• Venue: BBC Television Theatre
• Series: 1
• Edition: 6

on the guest list...

• Alfred Harris
• Jack Harris
• C G Massingale
• Mrs Massingale
• Sister Elspet Bryce
• Mrs Bryans
• Helena Borch
• Harriet Morell
• Sacha Schwedersky
• Theo Schwedersky

related appearance...

• These Were Your Lives - May 1956

production team...

• Researchers: Peter Moore, Nigel Ward
• Writer: Gale Pedrick
• Director: unknown
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

A Medical Life

examining the medical profession

These Were Your Lives

a review of the first series

This Is My Life

John Bull Magazine interview with Eamonn Andrews

This is Leslie Jackson's Life

Interview with the first producer of This Is Your Life

Photographs of Johanna Harris This Is Your Life

John Bull Magazine 28 April 1956

by Eamonn Andrews as told to Wilfred Greatorex

I nurse TV's biggest secret - part seven of a continuing interview

An even more elaborate plan was laid to get Mrs Johanna Harris, the Red Cross nurse, into the studio for her life.

It was arranged that an English-speaking Swedish girl should become Mrs Harris's patient.

A doctor encased her leg in plaster, and the Red Cross instructed Mrs Harris to take her to a London hotel before escorting her to Sweden.

In the hotel, the girl played up to her brief and said she would like to see This Is Your Life.

When Mrs Harris suggested that they might watch it on the television set in the hotel lounge, her patient replied that she had tickets for the show and wanted to see it broadcast.

There was almost a slip up when the girl, who was supposed to speak no English, promptly answered a waiter who asked if she wanted a large or small orange juice.

Mrs Harris seemed satisfied when her charge explained that she had learned a little English. As soon as the programme was over, the girl had her plaster removed.