Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Michael FLANDERS OBE (1922-1975)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Michael Flanders, actor, broadcaster, writer and performer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at Thames Television's Euston Road Studios, having been led to believe he was there to be interviewed about a new show.
Michael, who was born in London, first began performing as a teenager at Westminster School. After graduating from Oxford University, where he acted and directed with the Dramatic Society, he debuted professionally in 1941 at the Oxford Playhouse. The following year, with the Second World War raging, Michael enlisted with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. While serving at sea in 1943, he contracted polio and, having been confined to a wheelchair, was unable to resume his acting career after the war ended.
He found work as a radio broadcaster, and he wrote songs for revues in London's West End with his old school friend, the composer Donald Swann. In 1956 Flanders and Swann performed their songs in a two-man theatrical revue, At the Drop of a Hat. The pair successfully toured this show, and its successor, At the Drop of Another Hat, throughout Britain, the US, Australia and elsewhere until 1967. During and after the stage partnership with Donald, Michael performed on stage, screen, radio, concert platforms and recordings, and wrote opera librettos, children's books and verse.
programme details...
- Edition No: 319
- Subject No: 320
- Broadcast live: Wed 26 Jan 1972
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Venue: Euston Road Studios
- Series: 12
- Edition: 11
on the guest list...
- Lister Welch
- Dick Vosburgh
- Courtney Kenny
- Claudia - wife
- Donald Swann
- Val Doonican
- Anthony Wedgwood Benn
- Peter - father
- Pat - sister
- Rosemary - sister
- John Anderson
- George Marchant
- Sister Rebecca McRae
- Sister Peggy Nugent
- Ian Wallace
- The Spinners
- Laura - daughter
- Stephanie - daughter
production team...
- Researcher: unknown
- Writer: unknown
- Director: Margery Baker
- Producer: Malcolm Morris
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
- with thanks to Leon Berger for his contribution to this page
it's all about the comedy
TV Times takes a light-hearted look at keeping a secret
Photographs of Michael Flanders This Is Your Life
Series 12 subjects
George Best | Alfred Marks | Rolf Harris | Don Whillans | Sacha Distel | Les Dawson | Doris Hare | Keith Michell | David FrostBarry John | Michael Flanders | Charlie Williams | Ginette Spanier | Hughie Green | Tom Courtenay | Hylda Baker
Gordon Banks | Alan Rudkin | Michael Wood | Graham Kerr | Pauline Collins | Ray Illingworth
Patricia Hayes | Nosher Powell | Richard Briers | Lulu