Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Five years after the BBC cancelled This Is Your Life, the original host Eamonn Andrews and the team behind his successful late-night chat show on ITV revived the programme.
Produced by Thames Television from their newly built studios on London's Euston Road, the new series offered a brand new look, as doors replaced curtains to reveal surprise guests, and 'Gala Performance' became the show's identifiable theme tune. Wednesday evenings at 7pm was the programme's new place in the schedules, one it more or less retained for the next 20 years.
The series opened with the first-ever colour edition, broadcast live from the London Palladium, as one of the UK's top entertainers was surprised by Eamonn with a new style book.
The first edition to feature a trio of subjects was shown in a New Year's Eve special edition, as a popular female vocal group were honoured - highlighting a change of style for this new series, with a more celebrity approach to the choice of subjects. And history is made as another entertainer became the first ever subject to appear as the guest of honour on both the American and British versions of This Is Your Life.
The London-born journalist Gale Pedrick died in February 1970. Gale wrote the scripts for the first 35 editions of This Is Your Life, setting the style and tone for the early programmes.
related pages...
the genesis of the programme
the show's fifty year history
TV Times article on Eamonn Andrews
The Stage reports on the ITV launch
Eamonn Andrews previews the programme's relaunch
It's the show that balances on a tightrope
TV Times interviews footballer Danny Blanchflower
TV Times previews the new series
TV Times article on Eamonn Andrews
Obituaries for This Is Your Life's first scriptwriter
Elizabeth Twistington Higgins: This Is Your Life
A profile of the ballet dancer
Tommy Steele: This Is Your Life
A profile of the entertainer
Eamonn faces up to his question time
TV Times article on the family life of Eamonn Andrews
Producer Robert Tyrrell reveals some 'cloak and dagger' tactics
| Des O'CONNOR | Singer, presenter and comedian | 19 November 1969 |
| Bobby CHARLTON | Footballer | 26 November 1969 |
| Harry DRIVER | Television scriptwriter | 3 December 1969 |
| TWIGGY | Model | 10 December 1969 |
| Honor BLACKMAN | Actress | 17 December 1969 |
| The BEVERLEY Sisters | Singing group | 31 December 1969 |
| John FAIRFAX | Rower and adventurer | 7 January 1970 |
| Henry COOPER | Boxer | 14 January 1970 |
| Jackie STEWART | Motor racing driver | 21 January 1970 |
| Jimmy SAVILE | DJ and television personality | 28 January 1970 |
| Arthur DOOLEY | Artist and sculptor | 4 February 1970 |
| Wendy CRAIG | Actress | 11 February 1970 |
| Tony JACKLIN | Golfer | 18 February 1970 |
| Charlie CAIROLI | Circus clown | 25 February 1970 |
| Richard EVANS | Lifeboat coxswain | 4 March 1970 |
| Alfie BASS | Actor | 11 March 1970 |
| Jack GOOD | Television and record producer | 18 March 1970 |
| Joe MERCER | Football manager | 25 March 1970 |
| Ronnie CORBETT | Actor and comedian | 1 April 1970 |
| Colin MILBURN | Cricketer | 8 April 1970 |
| Frankie VAUGHAN | Singer and actor | 15 April 1970 |
| Lorna RIDGWAY | Teacher and educationalist | 22 April 1970 |
| Val DOONICAN | Singer | 6 May 1970 |
| Johnny SPEIGHT | Television scriptwriter | 13 May 1970 |
| Reg VARNEY | Actor and comedian | 20 May 1970 |
| Harold FRENCH | Actor and film director | 27 May 1970 |
Broadcast details
Thames Television production for ITV26 editions | 26 x 30 minutes
Wednesday | 7.00pm x 25 | 6.55pm x 1
The 6 May edition was broadcast early due to a European Champions Cup football match
Production team
Producer: Robert Tyrrell | Directors: Margery Baker, Peter Frazer-JonesWriters: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley, Liam Nolan, Jack Crawshaw, John Stapleton, John Sandilands
Dan Douglas, David Carter, Lawrie Wyman, George Evans, Alan Haire
Researchers: Jack Crawshaw, John Stapleton, Mary McAnally, Alan Haire, David Carter, Bob Bryan, Janette Carn
Programme Consultants: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley | Programme Associates: Jack Crawshaw, John Stapleton
Production Assistant: Margaret Thistle | Designer: Tony Borer