Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Vidal Sassoon, hairstylist, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Café Royal in central London.

Vidal, who was born in Hammersmith, London, grew up in extreme poverty, spending seven years of his childhood in an orphanage. His ambition was to be a footballer, but his mother persuaded him to become an apprentice hairdresser. After training under Raymond Bessone in Mayfair, Vidal opened his first salon in London in 1954.

In 1964, Vidal re-popularised a simple close-cut geometric hairstyle called the bob cut, which became hugely popular and was worn by such women as fashion designer Mary Quant and film stars Mia Farrow and Goldie Hawn. The success of his innovative cuts led to the opening of his first New York City salon a year later.

programme details...

• Edition No: 285
• Subject No: 286
• Broadcast date: Wed 2 Dec 1970
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Wed 4 Nov 1970
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 11
• Edition: 3

on the guest list...

unknown

production team...

• Researcher: unknown
• Writer: unknown
• Director: Margery Baker
• Producer: Robert Tyrrell

A Fashionable Life

from catwalk to all things artistic

Life Is Full Of Surprises

Producer Robert Tyrrell reveals some 'cloak and dagger' tactics

Vidal Sassoon with presenter Eamonn Andrews on This Is Your Life