Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
The This Is Your Life production team regularly plotted to tell the stories behind the storytellers of the literary world. Tales of steamy and even sordid romances, rags-to-riches dramas, action-packed thrillers, fantasy and even horror – all concocted from the imaginations of those authors at the top of their game.
So, here we look at those international best selling novelists who received a very special first edition - the Big Red Book*...
Ida COOK 11 March 1956 Eamonn surprised the novelist and campaigner at the BBC Television Theatre. |
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Compton MACKENZIE 10 December 1956 The writer, who was born into a well-known theatrical family, was surprised by Eamonn at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith. |
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Barbara CARTLAND 24 March 1958 The novelist and prominent society figure was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre. Barbara - whose first novel Jigsaw was published in 1923 - was greeted by French boxer Georges Carpentier, among others. She would go on to write hundreds of novels and was honoured a second time by This Is Your Life in 1989. |
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Monica DICKENS 7 April 1971 The writer - and great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens - was surprised by Eamonn during the programme's second series produced by Thames Television. Monica - who had recently published her first children's book, Follyfoot - was greeted by fellow writers Richard Gordon in the studio and Compton Mackenzie via a recorded message. |
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Gordon OSTLERE (Richard GORDON) 28 February 1974 In an infamous moment in the show's history, the Doctor in the House writer refused to participate when surprised by Eamonn at Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. The live broadcast was taken off air and replaced with a recorded show. Richard was later persuaded to go ahead with the tribute, and his edition was then recorded and broadcast the following week. |
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Dick FRANCIS 18 December 1974 The former steeplechase jockey, who became a writer and turned his knowledge of the horse racing world into a series of best-selling crime novels, was surprised by Eamonn while signing copies of his new book Knock Down in central London for a tribute which included jockey Gordon Richards and novelist Kingsley Amis among the guests. |
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Harry PATTERSON 17 May 1978 Eamonn surprised the novelist in London's Leicester Square, at the premiere of the film The Eagle Has Landed - an adaptation of his best selling novel written under the pseudonym of Jack Higgins. |
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Leslie THOMAS 17 January 1979 The author - who was orphaned at the age of 12 and brought up in a Dr Barnado's home - was surprised by Eamonn at a Barnado's hostel in Kingston, Surrey. |
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Jilly COOPER 19 March 1980 The former journalist - who became a successful writer of romance fiction - was surprised by Eamonn while undertaking research for a new book by interviewing patrons of the King Stores pub in London's Bishopsgate. |
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Jeffrey ARCHER 14 January 1981 The former Conservative MP for Louth was surprised by Eamonn - along with the Somerset county cricket team - while out jogging on London's embankment. |
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Catherine COOKSON 22 December 1982 The widely read novelist - who retained a low profile in the world of celebrity writers - was thrust into the spotlight when Eamonn surprised her at the studios of Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle. |
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Lena KENNEDY 16 April 1986 The writer - who achieved fame late in life - was surprised by Eamonn on her way to a book signing in the Kingston branch of Bentalls department store. |
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Barbara CARTLAND 13 December 1989 Michael surprised the prolific romantic novelist at the studios of Gainsborough Pictures during a photo session for the launch of a film adaptation of one of her novels. |
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Barbara TAYLOR BRADFORD 3 January 1990 The jet-setting novelist was surprised by Michael as she disembarked from Concorde at Heathrow Airport. |
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Arthur HAILEY 6 February 1991 Michael surprises the writer - perhaps best remembered for his novels, Hotel and Airport - during a mock interview scenario at Thames Television's Teddington Studios. |
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Jackie COLLINS 24 March 1993 The production team travelled to Hollywood, so Michael could surprise the highly successful novelist at the glamorous Bel Age Hotel in Los Angeles, during a launch party for the video release of a television mini-series of her latest book, Lady Boss. Her sister, Joan Collins, sends a filmed message, while other guests include actors Glynis Barber and Michael Brandon. |
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Arthur C CLARKE 11 January 1995 London's Science Museum was the inspired choice of venue for Michael to surprise the renowned science-fiction author and broadcaster. |
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James HERBERT 12 April 1995 In another highly appropriate choice of venue, Michael surprised the horror writer at the London Dungeon. |
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* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details