This Is Your Life: Reg Varney

Reg VARNEY (1916-2008)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Reg Varney, actor and comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at a bus depot in central London while handing out gifts to children on a sightseeing tour.

Reg, who was born in Canning Town, east London, began his performing career as a part-time piano player, finding work in working men's clubs, pubs and cinemas before becoming a singer with various big bands in the 1930s. During the Second World War, he served with the Royal Engineers while at the same time performing as an army entertainer, touring the Far East.

After the war, he found work as an all-round entertainer, travelling the music halls up and down the country while making a small number of film and television appearances. His big break came in 1961 in the BBC sitcom The Rag Trade, followed by another BBC sitcom Beggar My Neighbour, in 1966. In 1969 he was cast as bus driver Stan Butler in the ITV sitcom On The Buses, a role which made him a household name.

"Cor, dear!"

programme details...

Edition No: 281
Subject No: 283
Broadcast live: Wed 20 May 1970
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Venue: Euston Road Studios
Series: 10
Edition: 25

on the guest list...

Ronald Chesney
Ronald Wolfe
Stan - brother
Sid - brother
Doris - sister
Bella - sister
George Shears
Lily - wife
Jeanne - daughter
Reg Wall
Mabel Wall - in audience
Bernard Miles
Barbara Windsor
Pat Coombs
June Whitfield
Ted Ray
Bob Grant
Stephen Lewis
Michael Robbins
Anna Karen
Doris Hare
Judy Carne

production team...

Researchers: Jack Crawshaw, John Stapleton, Janette Carn, Mary McAnally
Writers: Jack Crawshaw, John Stapleton
Director: Margery Baker
Producer: Robert Tyrrell

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

the sitcom stars

Screenshots of Reg Varney This Is Your Life

June Whitfield recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in her book ...and June Whitfield, The Autobiography...

Reg Varney is a very inventive actor and comic; in the early days, Benny Hill was his feed. Give Reg a prop to play with and he'll perform for five minutes. I remember a scene in which he chased a solitary pickled onion round a jar, and another where he managed to get a disgraceful number of laughs by trying to butter pieces of melba toast, which of course kept breaking.

He's also an excellent pianist and has entertained us with songs old and new on many occasions. I'm indebted to Reg for teaching me how to pull a tablecloth off a laden table without disturbing the crockery - a most spectacular and highly satisfying trick, requiring quick, decisive movement and steady nerve. When I appeared on his This Is Your Life I tried to persuade them to let us repeat the stunt on air, but the spoilsports wouldn't agree.

Series 10 subjects