This Is Your Life article

says KENNETH BAILY

JUST like the ivy... "What's My Line?" clings to BBC television. But tonight its mainstay through the challenging years, Eamonn Andrews, leaves it.

Shortly following him will be Barbara Kelly, and then David Nixon. And the old series will limp to its mid-summer "rest" with only veteran Lady Barnett left of its famous panel – Gilbert Harding having moved into the chair.

SNEERS

Long-planned holiday and summer season dates are taking away the Line stars, but the BBC is persisting in prolonging the quiz's run without them.

Of course it's easy to sneer at "What's My Line?" as an old-hanger-on, kept out of the BBC's private love for it.

But viewing figures tell the real story. The old game is lapped up by millions.

Against this background I spoke to Eamonn Andrews and Barbara Kelly about their TV futures.

As Eamonn said to me, so long as "What's My Line?" runs he wants to do it. If they return it in the autumn, he will be there. Yet so long as it is there, it cramps his wish to find a new TV vehicle.

This Is Your Life is the other stayer shackling Eamonn. It, too, is madly popular, and so long as the BBC runs it this show, too, will keep him from finding a new TV field.

Might it be more fruitful for Eamonn's long-term TV future, for him to break away and go over to ITV, where eager planners would find new programmes for him?

He says: "The only reason I don't go over is because I like what I'm doing on BBC."

Barbara Kelly is another What's My Lin-er whom I'm sure many viewers would like to see expanding her talents in new programmes.

For one thing, as theatre managers know, she is a fine actress, given the right play. (This is difficult because she must have plays with New World accents; she refuses to try to play English accent roles.)

But she showed promise in a new type TV show last year, "Kelly's Eye."

Ever since the BBC has dithered over plans to extend this.

ITV, she tells me, wants her to do a domestic comedy series. She is wary - rightly, I think, because the Lucys and Joans have mopped up this field.

So two of our most valued TV stars are wondering about their futures. So far as What's My Line? And This Is Your Life are concerned they are getting a new boss in Mr Eric Maschwitz, who has said that he's afraid some of TV's longest-viewed faces will have to go.

Mr Maschwitz was taking a critical studio look at This Is Your Life last Monday. He's capable of throwing a spanner into both shows, even of removing them for good.