This Is Your Life: Mo Mowlam

Mo MOWLAM (1949-2005)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Mo Mowlam, former politician, was surprised by Michael Aspel while recording the BBC television comedy show Shooting Stars at the BBC Television Centre.

Mo, who was born in Watford, joined the Labour Party during her first year at Durham University, where she studied sociology and anthropology. After graduating, she moved to the US, where she studied for a PhD in political science at the University of Iowa and later taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Florida State University. She returned to the UK in 1979 and took up an appointment at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, where she became more politically active.

Having been elected as a Labour MP for Redcar in the 1987 general election, she became a spokesperson for Northern Ireland later that year. When Labour won the 1997 general election, Mo was made Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the first woman to have held the post. Mo helped to restore an IRA ceasefire and oversaw the negotiations, which led to the historic 1998 Good Friday Agreement – remarkably, all carried out while being treated for a brain tumour. She retired from politics at the 2001 general election.

"Wait till I see my husband - I'll murder him!"

programme details...

Edition No: 1107
Subject No: 1083
Broadcast date: Thu 9 Jan 2003
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Thu 10 Oct 2002 11.15pm
Venue: London Studios
Series: 43
Edition: 2
Code name: Sweet

on the guest list...

Jon Norton - husband
Henrietta - stepdaughter
Freddie - stepson
Chris Smith
Alastair Stewart
Baroness May Blood
Josie Lawrence
Ross Kemp
Richard Wilson
Jean - sister
Joyce Hamilton
Eileen Scholes
Neil Kinnock
Dominic Prest
Michael Portillo
Kate Williams
Dr Mark Glaser
Nigel Warner
Margaret Morley
Tony Blair
Vilma Collins
residents of Redcar
Dot Pallister
John Pallister
Dave Cammish
Baroness Boothroyd
Bertie Ahern
Mick Hucknall
Bill Clinton

production team...

Researcher: Kate Greer
Writer: Ian Brown
Director: John Gorman
Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
Producer: Sue Green

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Life on the Hustings

a cross-party celebration

Alastair Stewart

Screenshots of Mo Mowlam This Is Your Life

Coventry Evening Telegraph 10 January 2003

Mo Mowlam handed the famous red book

Clinton among contributors to show charting life of ex-Coventry pupil

Byline: Simon Dudman

Former US President Bill Clinton made a heartfelt tribute to Coventry's Mo Mowlam as she became the latest celebrity to feature on TV's This Is Your Life last night.

The former Coundon Court pupil was handed the famous big red book by presenter Michael Aspel on the long-running show.

It proved to be a night of emotion and surprises as family and friends, showbiz pals and political colleagues all paid their own tribute to the Coventry kid, whose political savvy role in the Northern Ireland peace process and personal bravery in the face of illness won worldwide respect.

Bill Clinton, who recorded a personal message for Mo, gave a moving tribute and described her as "one of the most remarkable women" he had ever met.

The former President added: "My heartfelt congratulations to you on this night of tributes."

He recalled how much of an impact she had made on her trips to the White House and said how much he treasured her gift of a plate featuring an image of the Changing of the Guard.

He joked how valuable it could be "Now we're both out of a job".

Mighty Mo was caught out by host Michael Aspel as she filmed an episode of BBC comedy quiz Shooting Stars with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.

As the other panellists looked on, perhaps hopefully, Aspel teased host Reeves he was in line for the honour, before catching the former cabinet minister out by declaring the famous line, "Mo Mowlam, this is your life".

A standing ovation from the quiz's other stars and loud applause from the studio audience greeted the announcement.

And as she took in the news, she joked "Where's that husband of mine", before being driven off to the This Is Your Life studios.

Early brush with media

Among those paying tribute and giving their own recollections of the young Mo, then known as Marjorie, were former Coundon Court deputy headteacher Margaret Morley and school pals Joyce Hamilton and Eileen Scholes.

Host Michael Aspel also reminded Dr Mowlam, who was awarded the Freedom of Coventry in 1999, of one of her first brushes with the media.

As a schoolgirl Mo joined pals Susan Butler and Stephanie Ryan in writing to the Evening Telegraph offering to clean up the city's Godiva statue, which they thought looked grimy.

Political figures giving tributes included Tony Blair, Michael Portillo, es-Irish premier Bertie Ahern, Neil Kinnock and Betty Boothroyd.

Series 43 subjects