Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life regularly paid tribute to those professionals who achieved fame and fortune in their particular field, including the many creative endeavors and disciplines of culture and the arts.
Here is a look at those from the world of dance - classical, contemporary and modern - who have received the Big Red Book* treatment...
Louie RAMSAY 27 January 1958 Eamonn interrupted a performance of the pantomime Babes in the Wood at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh, to surprise the actress and dancer who had recently been paralysed by an unknown virus, but from which she had made a full recovery. Louie's guests include Jimmy Logan, Hattie Jacques and a recorded message from Wilfred Pickles. |
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Alicia MARKOVA 11 January 1960 In the first of her two tributes, Alicia was surprised by Eamonn at London's Royal Festival Hall during a prize-giving ceremony, where the This Is Your Life book was handed to the ballerina 'disguised' as a present. |
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Madame VACANI 23 January 1961 Marguerite Vacani - founder of the Vacani School of Dance - teacher of dance and social etiquette to young ladies and gentlemen - was surprised by Eamonn as she arrived at the BBC Television Theatre. Madame Vacani raised thousands of pounds for worthy causes and, at one time held weekly classes at Buckingham Palace for the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. |
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Elizabeth TWISTINGTON HIGGINS 6 November 1961 Elizabeth, the former ballet dancer who became a celebrated artist after contracting polio, was the first subject of This Is Your Life to be surprised on their birthday - and the first to be told of the surprise in advance - following a doctor's advice to the producers that a sudden shock may harm her health. |
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Marie RAMBERT 26 February 1962 The influential dancer, teacher and founder of Ballet Rambert was surprised by Eamonn at the Mercury Theatre, after arriving before the production team were ready for her! |
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Ninette de VALOIS 9 April 1964 The founder of The Royal Ballet was surprised by Eamonn in the home of her longtime collaborator Sir Frederick Ashton. |
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Beryl GREY 10 April 1974 The ballet dancer - who became the artistic director of the London Festival Ballet - was surprised by Eamonn at the company's Donmar rehearsal studio in London's Covent Garden. |
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Lionel BLAIR 6 March 1974 Eamonn surprised Lionel while watching an audition at Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. |
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Anton DOLIN 12 April 1978 The ballet dancer and choreographer, known for his work with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, was surprised by Eamonn while taking a class at the Royal Academy of Dance in London. |
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Margaret KELLY 3 May 1979 Broadcast as a 'special' on Election Night, this edition featured the Irish dancer who became known as Miss Bluebell after establishing the Bluebell Girls dance troupe. |
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Wayne SLEEP 28 October 1981 Eamonn surprised Wayne durring the curtain call of the recently opened musical Cats at the New London Theatre - a venue previously used by This Is Your Life. Guests include three former 'dance' subjects - Dame Alicia Markova, Anton Dolin and Dame Ninette de Valois, and flown in from Panama as Wayne's final guest - the ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn. |
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Gillian LYNNE 15 February 1989 Michael became the Phantom of the Opera in order to surprise the celebrated West End choreographer on the stage of Her Majesty's Theatre, London – current home to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical which Gillian had choreographed. Gillian's lively show includes high kicks, top hats and canes, and tributes from Dame Beryl Grey and Moira Shearer. |
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Wendy TOYE 29 January 1992 The dancer, stage and film director and actress was surprised by Michael onstage at the Wimbledon Theatre following a performance of her production of The Sound Of Music. |
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Peggy SPENCER 17 March 1993 The ballroom dancer and choreographer - long associated with television's Come Dancing - was surprised by Michael at Croydon's Fairfield Halls. |
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Alicia MARKOVA 4 October 1995 For her second This Is Your Life tribute, Alicia - now Dame Alicia - was surprised by Michael in the crush bar of London's Royal Opera House. |
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Babs POWELL 15 November 2001 The former dancer with Pans People, and wife of actor Robert Powell, was surprised by Michael during a fundraising lunch held in her honour at St Katharine's Dock in London. |
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* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details