Life Second Time Around
This Is Your Life: Life Second Time Around feature
Eamonn Andrews This Is Your Life Eamonn Andrews This Is Your Life Eamonn ANDREWS
29 July 1955 and 15 May 1974
Eamonn became the very first This Is Your Life subject on British television when he was surprised by the show's creator, Ralph Edwards. He was caught out a second time while helping to perform a magic trick on David Nixon's television show. David took charge of the Big Red Book on that occasion.
     
     
Arthur Askey This Is Your Life Arthur Askey This Is Your Life Arthur ASKEY
28 December 1959 - the popular diminutive comedian was surprised by Eamonn outside the BBC Television Theatre.

25 December 1974 - for a Christmas Day broadcast Arthur was surprised by Eamonn, dressed as Humpty Dumpty, while recording a television show discussing pantomime with Ted Ray and Jimmy Tarbuck.
     
     
Shirley Bassey This Is Your Life Shirley Bassey This Is Your Life Shirley BASSEY
29 November 1972 - the popular and successful singer from Cardiff's Tiger Bay, was surprised by Eamonn at Heathrow Airport, having just flown in from her home in Switzerland.

6 January 1993 - Michael caught up with Shirley, for her second tribute, at the curtain call of a sell-out concert at London's Royal Albert Hall.
     
     
George Best This Is Your Life George Best This Is Your Life George BEST
17 November 1971 - the Northern Irish footballer, associated with Manchester United, was surprised at the height of his fame by Eamonn in a London nightclub.

6 March 2003 - Michael surprised George at Teddington Studios, referring to his first Big Red Book - "will you regard this as Chapter 2?"
     
     
Honor Blackman This Is Your Life Honor Blackman This Is Your Life Honor BLACKMAN
17 December 1969 - the actress, best known for her role as Cathy Gale in TV's The Avengers was surprised by Eamonn in a TV studio dressing room.

17 February 1993 - Honor was caught out by Michael during a 'mock' television interview.
     
     
  Richard Briers This Is Your Life Richard BRIERS
3 May 1972 and
9 March 1994 - Michael interrupted an interview to surprise the comedy actor for his second time in the chair of honour.
     
     
Dora Bryan This Is Your Life Dora Bryan This Is Your Life Dora BRYAN
2 April 1962 - the actress was surprised by Eamonn at her Brighton home: "Tonight? Oh dear! I've got to do some auditions at 4!"

25 January 1989 - Dora was caught out by Michael on the stage of Manchester's Opera House, at the curtain call of Hello, Dolly!: "I'd have had some new eyelashes if I'd known!"
     
     
Matt Busby This Is Your Life Matt Busby This Is Your Life Matt BUSBY
6 January 1958 – The celebrated manager of Manchester United was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC Manchester studios in Dickenson Road.

12 May 1971 - "For the first time, for the second time" - Eamonn surprised the show's first second-timer - ahead of Sir Matt's last game in a derby match with Manchester City at Main Road.
     
     
Marti Caine This Is Your Life Marti Caine This Is Your Life Marti CAINE
22 March 1978 - the popular comedienne was surprised by Eamonn while filming in her home town of Sheffield.

30 November 1994 - Michael caught Marti at Woburn Golf Club, with the help of Tom O'Connor and Valerie Singleton, to update her story, including her brave, ongoing fight against cancer.
     
     
Barbara Cartland This Is Your Life Barbara Cartland This Is Your Life Barbara CARTLAND
24 March 1958 - the author and society figure was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre.

13 December 1989 - Michael interrupted a photo shoot at Elstree Studios to surprise Barbara: "I didn't know it was still on!"
     
     
Petula Clark This Is Your Life Petula Clark This Is Your Life Petula CLARK
6 February 1964 / 30 April 1975 / 6 March 1996
The internationally popular recording star is the only person to receive the tribute THREE times - most recently when Michael caught her at the curtain call of Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre.
Petula also has the distinction of having the shortest gap between 'Lifes' - just 11 years.
     
     
Leslie Crowther This Is Your Life Leslie Crowther This Is Your Life Leslie CROWTHER
28 March 1973 – Eamonn surprised the actor and comedian while he was making a celebrity appearance at an Antiques Fair at London's Earls Court.

9 November 1994 - Michael caught Leslie at a book signing session in Selfridges on London's Oxford Road.
     
     
Les Dawson This Is Your Life Les Dawson This Is Your Life Les DAWSON
22 December 1971 - the comedian was surprised by Eamonn on an edition of Opportunity Knocks. The Big Red Book was wrapped as a present for Les to open.

23 December 1992 - Les was caught by Michael at the curtain call of the pantomime Dick Whittington, on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, where the show was then recorded.
     
     
Michael Denison This Is Your Life Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray This Is Your Life Michael DENISON and Dulcie GRAY
Regular guests on many editions of This Is Your Life, the well-respected husband and wife acting couple were featured in a joint tribute broadcast on 19 April 1995 - the only couple to have both previously received their own tributes!

Dulcie's show was seen on 7 March 1973 while Michael's was on 23 February 1977.
     
     
Diana Dors This Is Your Life Diana Dors This Is Your Life Diana DORS
1 April 1957 - British cinema's sex symbol, just back from Hollywood, was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC Television Theatre.

27 October 1982 - Eamonn ambushed Diana, now a popular character actress, as she entered the Royalty Theatre.
     
     
Charlie Drake This Is Your Life Charlie Drake This Is Your Life Charlie DRAKE
11 December 1961 - the comedian was surprised by Eamonn at the London Palladium, while discussing plans for the theatre's forthcoming pantomime.

1 November 1995 - Michael dressed as a policeman to surprise Charlie at the curtain call of the comedy play Funny Money at London's Playhouse Theatre.
     
     
  Thora Hird This Is Your Life Thora HIRD
16 January 1964 - the popular character actress was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre with the help of broadcaster David Frost.

30 December 1996 - Thora was surprised by Michael in the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth while filming for Last of the Summer Wine.
     
     
Bob Hope This Is Your Life Bob and Dolores Hope This Is Your Life Bob HOPE
18 and 25 November 1970 - the British-born comedian was caught by Eamonn in the foyer of Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. The show was a rare two-parter shown over consecutive weeks.

27 December 1995 - Michael travelled to California to surprise Bob and his wife Dolores at the CBS Studios, for a double-subject special edition.
     
     
Evelyn Laye This Is Your Life Evelyn Laye This Is Your Life Evelyn LAYE
31 August 1959 - the actress and singer and star of musical theatre was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC Television Theatre.

19 December 1990 - the veteran star, aged 90, was surprised by Michael on stage at Croydon's Ashcroft Theatre.
     
     
Andrew Lloyd Webber This Is Your Life Andrew Lloyd Webber This Is Your Life Andrew LLOYD WEBBER

26 November 1980 - Eamonn - and the company members of the composer's current hit show Evita - surprised Andrew in the foyer of Thames Television's Euston Road Studios for his first Big Red Book.
2 November 1994 - Michael caught Andrew at the Adelphi Theatre - where his latest success Sunset Boulevard was playing – for a specially extended edition launching the programme's return to the BBC.

     
     
Joe Loss This Is Your Life Joe Loss This Is Your Life Joe LOSS
7 May 1963 - the musician and band leader was surprised by Eamonn at London's Hammersmith Palais. The two men had formed a friendship when Joe had met Eamonn in Dublin, and invited him to travel with his band.
15 October 1980 - Eamonn surprised Joe again - this time at London's Portman Hotel during a star-studded party to celebrate Joe's 50 years in show business.
     
     
Vera Lynn This Is Your Life Vera Lynn This Is Your Life Vera LYNN
14 October 1957 - the popular singer - known as the 'Forces' Sweetheart' - was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC Television Theatre.

1 January 1979 - it really was a case of 'we'll meet again' as Eamonn catches up with the singing star a second time, at London's Cafe Royal.
     
     
Alicia Markova This Is Your Life Alicia Markova This Is Your Life Alicia MARKOVA
11 January 1960 - the ballerina was surprised by Eamonn at London's Royal Festival Hall after being handed the This Is Your Life book, which had been 'disguised' as a present.

4 October 1995 - Alicia was surprised by Michael during a television interview, in another grand setting - the crush bar of London's Royal Opera House.
     
     
Spike Milligan This Is Your Life Spike Milligan This Is Your Life Spike MILLIGAN
11 April 1973 - the comedian and 'Goon' was surprised by Eamonn during a reunion of his former Army colleagues at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea: "You call this a life?"

15 February 1995 - Michael surprised Spike on the concourse of London's Euston station: "But I've been dead 10 years!"
     
     
John Mills This Is Your Life John Mills This Is Your Life John MILLS
19 December 1960 - Eamonn surprised the popular film actor at the entrance of Pinewood Studios.

26 October 1983 - Eamonn caught up with the head of the acting dynasty a second time, at the curtain call of the play Little Lies on the stage of the Wyndham's Theatre in London, for an extended edition of the show.
     
     
Bob Monkhouse This Is Your Life Bob Monkhouse This Is Your Life Bob MONKHOUSE
10 February 1982 - the comedian and game show host was surprised by Eamonn - and a host of television personalities - in a mock-up of the Celebrity Squares set in London's St Martin's Lane.

23 April 2003 - Michael surprised Bob at the BBC Television Centre for a specially extended edition of the show.
     
     
  Dudley Moore This Is Your Life Dudley MOORE
13 December 1972 and
4 and 11 March 1987 - the production team flew to Hollywood so that Eamonn could surprise the diminutive actor and comedian while he was entertaining diners in his Venice Beach restaurant Dudley's second tribute was told over two episodes.
     
     
Anna Neagle This Is Your Life Anna Neagle This Is Your Life Anna NEAGLE
17 February 1958 - the popular actress was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC Television Theatre, during a recording session for her film production Wonderful Things.

9 March 1983 - Eamonn enters London's Royal National Hotel on a pony-driven carriage to surprise Dame Anna, currently appearing in pantomime.
     
     
Ted Ray This Is Your Life Ted Ray This Is Your Life Ted RAY
23 October 1955 - the popular radio comedian was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC Television Theatre.

26 February 1975 - for his second tribute Eamonn surprised Ted by turning up in a Rolls-Royce at his home in Southgate in the London borough of Enfield.
     
     
Brian Rix This Is Your Life Brian Rix This Is Your Life Brian RIX
23 October 1961 – Eamonn and the team were in a panic waiting to surprise the actor and charity worker who arrived later than planned to a friend's house in Surrey.

13 April 1977 – Brian was caught by Eamonn a second time at a charity cheque presentation on the stage of Her Majesty's Theatre in London.
     
     
Harry Secombe This Is Your Life Harry Secombe This Is Your Life Harry SECOMBE
31 March 1958 - the popular Welsh entertainer and 'Goon' was surprised by Eamonn as he entered the BBC Television Theatre.

7 March 1990 - Michael surprised Harry for his second tribute at a book signing in the Kingston branch of WH Smith.
     
     
Richard Todd This Is Your Life Richard Todd This Is Your Life Richard TODD
7 March 1960 - the actor was surprised by Eamonn in Lime Grove Studios, West London, before heading round the corner to the BBC Television Theatre for the show.

23 November 1988 - Michael caught up with Richard on stage at the Theatre Royal Windsor, where the show was then recorded.
     
     
Eva Turner This Is Your Life Eva Turner This Is Your Life Eva TURNER
14 September 1959 – The internationally renowned soprano was surprised by Eamonn outside the BBC Television Theatre.

9 February 1983 – Eamonn caught Dame Eva a second time just prior to her 91st birthday at the Royal Opera House.
     
     
Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter USTINOV
30 November 1977 - the actor, writer and director was surprised by Eamonn while filming a scene for the film Death on the Nile at Pinewood Studios.

28 December 1994 - Michael interrupted Peter's lunch at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva to surprise him before flying back to London for a specially extended edition of the show.
     
     
  Frankie Vaughan This Is Your Life Frankie VAUGHAN

15 April 1970 Eamonn surprised the singer and actor at the Caesar's Palace nightclub in Luton.


30 March 1994 Michael surprised Frankie during a photocall for the charity Active Hearts at a London sports centre.
     
     
June Whitfield This Is Your Life June Whitfield This Is Your Life June WHITFIELD
14 April 1976 - Eamonn surprised the comedy actress in her own living room, at her home in Wimbledon!

8 March 1995 - Michael crept up on June during a recording session for Absolutely Fabulous at the BBC Television Centre, as her colleagues from the comedy series looked on.
     
     
Norman Wisdom This Is Your Life Norman Wisdom This Is Your Life Norman WISDOM
2 December 1957 – Eamonn surprised the comedy star backstage at Manchester's Playhouse Theatre.

11 February 1987 - Eamonn caught Norman at St Margaret's Tavern in Twickenham, on his 72nd birthday!
     
     
Edward Woodward This Is Your Life Edward Woodward This Is Your Life Edward WOODWARD
3 February 1971 - the actor was surprised by Eamonn in the bar of London's White House Hotel.

1 February 1995 - Michael, dressed appropriately, surprised Edward during a photo shoot at Syon House in West London.
     
     
  Billy Wright This Is Your Life Billy WRIGHT
8 May 1961 - the Wolverhampton Wanderers footballer - and husband to one third of The Beverley Sisters - was surprised by Eamonn at the EMI Studios in London's St John's Wood

17 January 1990 - Michael did the honours second time around - surprising Billy at Teddington Studios.
     

* this number includes Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile - details of their This Is Your Life editions are not included on this page