Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Tony Britton, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews outside the Café Royal on London's Regent Street, where he was meeting actors Richard O'Sullivan and Tessa Wyatt.

After serving with the Royal Artillery in Germany and Italy during the Second World War, Tony decided on an acting career, and initially spent time as a member of an amateurs dramatics group in Weston-super-Mare before turning professional. A season with the Library Theatre in Manchester led to his London debut in the play The Rising Wind, and his theatre career progressed with seasons at the Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He was offered a film contract with British Lion and went on to appear in numerous British films including The Birthday Present in 1957 and Operation Amsterdam in 1959. He starred in a theatrical tour of the musical My Fair Lady during the 1970s, and made an impact on television with the ITV political drama The Nearly Man in 1975 and the ITV sitcom Robin's Nest in 1977.

"I nearly said it to you yesterday!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 454
• Subject No: 451
• Broadcast date: Wed 26 Jan 1977
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Wed 5 Jan 1977
• Venue: Euston Road Studios
• Series: 17
• Edition: 14
• Code name: England

on the guest list...

• Rossano Brazzi
• Lydia Brazzi
• Eva - wife
• Jasper - son
• Cherry - daughter
• Fern Britton - daughter
• Tessa Wyatt
• Doris - mother - via telephone
• Mike Cox
• Peter Cotes
• Joan Miller
• Betty Driver
• Freda Driver
• Anne Rogers
• Margaret Lockwood
• Moira Lister
• Sandy Harding
Filmed tributes:
• Richard O'Sullivan
• Peter Finch

related appearances...

• Peter Finch - Dec 1961
• Betty Driver - Feb 1976
• Patrick Cargill - Dec 1976
• Dinah Sheridan - Mar 1979
• Cathleen Nesbitt - May 1980
• Anna Neagle - Mar 1983
• Jean Anderson - Jan 1985
• Nigel Havers - Jan 1992
• Ian Bannen - Mar 1999
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• Dorothy Tutin - Dec 2000
• Fern Britton - Feb 2002

production team...

• Researcher: John Viner
• Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
• Directors: Royston Mayoh, Terry Yarwood
• Producer: Jack Crawshaw

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

The Good Life

the sitcom stars

Family Life

keeping it in the family

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Fern Britton

Betty Driver

Peter Finch

Moira Lister

Margaret Lockwood

Richard O'Sullivan

Screenshots of Tony Britton This Is Your Life