Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Laurie HOLLOWAY (1938-)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Laurie Holloway, pianist and composer, was surprised by Michael Aspel while recording an edition of the chat show Parkinson at BBC Television Centre.
Laurie, who was born in Oldham, was a child prodigy who first began playing the piano at the age of 4. By 12, he was the choirmaster and organist at his local Temperance mission. After leaving school, he trained as a draughtsman but was soon playing the piano in the pit of Oldham's Theatre Royal. He later joined various dance bands before working as a freelance backing musician on countless hit singles.
After writing the musical comedy Instant Marriage in the 1960s, which played in London's West End, he became a musical director for and accompanied many recording stars such as Judy Garland, Cleo Laine and Elaine Paige. His work for television includes composing several well-known theme tunes, including Blind Date and Beadle's About. However, he is perhaps best known as the Musical Director for the long-running chat show hosted by Michael Parkinson.
"Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! I thought you were a friend of mine!"
programme details...
- Edition No: 1045
- Subject No: 1020
- Broadcast date: Mon 20 Mar 2000
- Broadcast time: 8.30-9.00pm
- Recorded: Thu 17 Feb 2000
- Venue: Teddington Studios
- Series: 40
- Edition: 20
- Code name: Fingers
on the guest list...
- Edward Cook
- Patricia Cook
- Marcus - brother
- Alice - sister-in-law
- Christine - niece
- Marion Montgomery - wife
- Karen - daughter
- Abigail - daughter
- Michael Parkinson
- Ron Wells
- Jackie Allen
- Charlie Aspinall
- John Prescott
- Pauline Prescott
- Barry Mason
- Ronnie Corbett
- Michael Barratt
- Wayne Sleep
- Elaine Paige
- Irene Wilmott
- Sid Wilmott Filmed tributes:
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Liz Robertson
- Rolf Harris
- Gilbert O'Sullivan
- Kenny Lynch
- Kiri Te Kanawa
- Dame Edna Everage
- Cleo Laine
- John Dankworth
- Jimmy Tarbuck
- Terry Wogan
related appearances...
- Terry Wogan - Apr 1978
- Michael Parkinson - Nov 1978
- Jimmy Tarbuck - Apr 1983
- Millicent Martin - Dec 1984
- Ernie Wise - Dec 1990
- Andrew Lloyd Webber - Nov 1994
- Rolf Harris - Sep 1995
production team...
- Researcher: Kate Greer
- Writer: Joe Steeples
- Director: John Gorman
- Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
- Executive Producer: John Longley
- Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
- Producer: Sue Green
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
blowing a trumpet for the musicians
Screenshots of Laurie Holloway This Is Your Life
Series 40 subjects
Roger Black | Hewitt Clark | Martin Kemp | Denise Welch | Rudolph Walker | Martin Jarvis | Stuart Hall | Rita TushinghamLen Vale-Onslow | Dale Winton | Ian Wright | Marguerite Patten | Eddie Jordan | Dave Lee Travis | Harry Hill
David Vine | John Craven | Richard Dunwoody | Tom Baker | Laurie Holloway | Kay Mellor | Mark Wingett
Christopher Timothy | Suggs | Jason Leonard | Desmond Wilcox | Roger Kendall | Daniel O'Donnell