This Is Your Life: Michael Bentine

Michael BENTINE (1922-1996)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Michael Bentine, comedian, actor and writer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.

Michael, who was born in Watford and educated at Eton College, began his acting career in 1940, before being called up for service in the RAF. After the war, he worked at London's Windmill Theatre, where he met Harry Secombe, with whom he co-founded the BBC radio comedy programme The Goon Show along with Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers.

Having parted amicably from The Goons, Michael established a career specialising in off-the-wall humour, often involving cartoons and other types of animations, including the children's television series The Bumblies and the comedy series It's a Square World, which won a BAFTA award in 1962.

programme details...

Edition No: 224
Subject No: 225
Broadcast date: Tue 30 Apr 1963
Broadcast time: 7.55-8.25pm
Recorded: Sun 21 Apr 1963 9.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 8
Edition: 29

on the guest list...

David Tomlinson
William Hope-Jones
Helen Cherry
Osmund Kelsick
Clementina - wife
Eddie Vitch
Marylla - daughter
Stuart - son
Richard - son
Serena - daughter
Frances Forbes
David Hughes
Anne Hughes
Andrew De Briger
Frank Thornton

production team...

Researcher: unknown
Writer: unknown
Director: Vere Lorrimer
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

It's a Funny Old Life

it's all about the comedy

Frank Thornton

Photographs of Michael Bentine This Is Your Life

Michael Bentine recalls This Is Your Life in his autobiography, The Reluctant Jester...

Just after Square World's extraordinary success at Montreux, I found myself trapped on This Is Your Life, presented by Eamonn Andrews.

Pop was delghted by the recognition I was receiving.

He told me, 'I realise that, through your comedy, you will be able to open many doors, and use your clairvoyance and prevision to help people in many ways. After all, that is what I trained you for.'

A week later, he died in his sleep.

Series 8 subjects