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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Windsor Davies, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews - with the help of cast members of the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum - outside a restaurant on Draycott Avenue in Chelsea, London.

Windsor was born in London to Welsh parents but moved to Nant-y-Moel in Wales at the outbreak of the Second World War. After working as an electrician in the local colliery, he completed his national service with the East Surrey Regiment in Libya and Egypt. He later trained to be a teacher and found work at Mountside School for Boys in Leek, Staffordshire, before deciding to become an actor.

After spending time with local amateur dramatics groups, he began working in repertory theatre and with the BBC, appearing on their schools programmes. His big break came in 1974 when he was cast as the bullying Sergeant Major Williams in the BBC television sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, a role which made him a household name.

"Thank you very much! What do I do now?"

programme details...

• Edition No: 423
• Subject No: 420
• Broadcast date: Wed 7 Jan 1976
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Wed 3 Dec 1975
• Venue: Euston Road Studios
• Series: 16
• Edition: 9
• Code name: Whisper

on the guest list...

• Melvyn Hayes
• cast members of It Ain't Half Hot Mum
• David Croft
• Jimmy Perry
• Lynne - wife
• Ted Smith
• Jane - daughter
• Sarah - daughter
• Nancy - daughter
• Danny - son
• Bethan - daughter
• Anyan - father
• Maggie - mother
• Glenys - sister
• Euan Williams
• Reg Gage
• Denis Harding
• Peter Clark
• Alan Waterfall
• James Kerr
• Philip Booth
• Bill Meelan
Filmed tributes:
• Emlyn Davies
• John - cousin
• John Brown
• Colin Webber

related appearances...

• Michael Aspel - May 1980
• Melvyn Hayes - Jan 1981
• Peter Adamson - Dec 1981
• Catherine Cookson - Dec 1982
• Jim Davidson - Feb 1984
• Donald Sinden - May 1985
• Lesley Joseph - Jan 1995
• David Croft - Dec 1995
• Julia Watson - Jan 1998

production team...

• Researcher: Tony Lee
• Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
• Director: Mike Dormer
• Producer: Jack Crawshaw

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

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Photographs and screenshots of Windsor Davies This Is Your Life