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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

  

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Babs Powell, charity fundraiser and former dancer, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of the actor John Mills - during a fundraising lunch held in her honour at St Katharine's Dock in London.

Babs, who was born in Wolverhampton and trained with the Arts Educational School, made her television debut in 1964 on the BBC programme The Beat Room as a member of the dance group The Beat Girls. Two years later, along with other members of that group, Babs formed Pans People, and after touring Europe, the group became popular performers on BBC television's Top of the Pops.

Babs left showbusiness after marrying actor Robert Powell and devoted her time to raising their family. In September 2000, despite never having sailed before, she took part in the BT Global Yacht Challenge, sailing the wrong way around the world on a gruelling 9-month adventure, raising over £50,000 for charity.

"It's a joke! This is a joke! I feel seasick!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1084
• Subject No: 1059
• Broadcast date: Thu 15 Nov 2001
• Broadcast time: 8.00-8.30pm
• Recorded: Sun 28 Oct 2001
• Venue: Teddington Studios
• Series: 42
• Edition: 5
• Code name: Fuel

on the guest list...

• Judith Chalmers
• Dennis Waterman
• Bill Tidy
• John Lodge
• Mary - mother
• Kate - daughter
• Barney - son
• Robert Powell - husband
• Tracy Edwards
• Ruth Pearson
• Dee Dee Wilde
• Louise Dobson
• Cherry Gillespie
• Flick Colby
• Mike King
• Sophie Dahl
• Tessa Dahl
• Ingrid Tarrant
• John Spurling
• Will Carnegie
• members of Team VERITAS
• Charlie Smith
• Chay Blyth
Filmed tributes:
• Jeremy Irons
• Jimmy Savile
• Chris Tarrant
• Jasper Carrott
• Sean Quilter
• staff and pupils of Jack Taylor School

related appearances...

• Robert Powell - Feb 1979
• Andrew Lloyd Webber - Nov 1980
• Chris Tarrant - Mar 1997
• Errol Brown - Nov 1997
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000

production team...

• Researcher: Kate Greer
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

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

related pages...

A Dancer's Life

from ballet to ballroom

Life on the Ocean Wave

adventurers of the high seas

Family Life

keeping it in the family

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Chay Blyth

Tracy Edwards

Jimmy Savile

Bill Tidy

Screenshots of Babs Powell This Is Your Life