Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Kenneth More, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Gaumont Cinema, Shepherd's Bush, having been led to believe he was there to see a preview of his new film, The 39 Steps.

Kenneth, who was born in Gerrards Cross, studied at Victoria College, Jersey, where he first began acting. After spending time in Canada, he returned to the UK, where he found work as a stagehand at the Windmill Theatre in London. While there, Kenneth decided to become an actor and was soon promoted to playing the straight man in the comedy routines. He later found regular work in repertory and continued working in the theatre until the outbreak of the Second World War when he joined the Royal Navy.

After the war, he resumed his acting career, appearing in small parts on stage, television and in film. In 1952 he received critical acclaim in the role of Freddie in a West End production of the play The Deep Blue Sea. However, his big break came the following year when he was cast in the film Genevieve. This led to the lead role in the hugely successful film Doctor in the House, which won Kenneth a BAFTA award for best newcomer.

programme details...

• Edition No: 88
• Subject No: 88
• Broadcast live: Mon 2 Mar 1959
• Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
• Venue: BBC Television Theatre
• Series: 4
• Edition: 23

on the guest list...

• Ethel Gething
• Sally Ann Howes
• Keith Cumming
• Doris Barry
• Babs Davidson
• Douglas Hardy
• Dirk Bogarde
• Frith Banbury
• Bill - wife - live link
• Sarah - daughter - live link
• Kay Kendall
• St Bernard dog
• Sir Tom O'Brien
Filmed tribute:
• Peter Ustinov

related appearances...

• Daniel Angel - Feb 1958
• Ben Fuller - Nov 1962
• Harold French - May 1970
• Douglas Bader - Mar 1982

production team...

• Researcher: Nickola Sterne
• Writer: Nickola Sterne
• Harmonica played by: Tommy Reilly
• Director: Vere Lorrimer
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Producing Life

the producers who steered the programme's success

This Is Your Life

Radio Times feature on the sleuth-like manner of the 'pick-up'

The Night We Shocked Petula

TV Times photo feature on Petula Clark's second This Is Your Life surprise

Peter Ustinov

Photographs and screenshots of Kenneth More This Is Your Life