This Is Your Life: Michael Bentine

Michael BENTINE (1922-1996)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Michael Bentine, comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews outside the BBC Television Theatre.

Michael started his acting career in 1940, but it was cut short when he was called up for service in the RAF. After the war he decided to become a comedian and worked at London’s Windmill Theatre where he met Harry Secombe, with whom he co-founded The Goon Show radio show along with Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers.

Parting amicably from The Goons, he established a career specialising in off-the-wall humour, often involving cartoons and other types of animations, with television shows such as The Bumblies, Before Midnight and It’s a Square World, which won a BAFTA award in 1962 and the Grand Prix de la Presse at Montreux in 1963.

programme details...

Edition No: 224
Subject No: 225
Broadcast: 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
Merylla - daughter
Stuart - son
Richard - son
Serena - daughter
Frances Forbes
David Hughes
Ann Hughes
Andrew De Briger
Frank Thornton
Derek Hunt
Bob Marshall
Anthony Brown
Terry Gill
Frank George
Simon Fraser
Paul Mead
Duncan Underwood
Denis Comey
Bryn Stewart

production team...

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

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