This Is Your Life: Charles Aznavour

Charles AZNAVOUR (1924-2018)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Charles Aznavour, singer, songwriter and actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in Leicester Square, London, having been led to believe he was being filmed for a different programme.

Charles, who was born in Paris, began his performing career as a child, touring with an act that involved tumbling and impersonations. In 1944, he formed a double act with actor Pierre Roche, performing in nightclubs, during which time he began writing songs.

Encouraged by Edith Piaf to pursue a career as a singer, Charles began recording and performing his own songs. In the 1970s, he had major success in the UK with the songs The Old Fashioned Way and She, which was number 1 on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks.

"My life? What a surprise!"

programme details...

Edition No: 525
Subject No: 522
Broadcast date: Wed 19 Dec 1979
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Mon 10 Dec 1979
Venue: New London Theatre
Series: 20
Edition: 4
Code name: Sparrow

on the guest list...

Ulla - wife
Katia - daughter
Mischa - son
Ursula Andress
Aida - sister
Georges - brother-in-law
Harry Scanlon
Pierre Roche
Fred Mella
Suzanne Mella
Jacques Normand
Juliette Gréco
Petula Clark
Dr Pierre Huth
Françoise Huth
Nicolas - son
Seda - daughter
Lyra - granddaughter
Ginger Rogers
Ernest Borgnine
Sacha Distel
James Coburn

production team...

Researchers: Maurice Leonard, Brian Klein, John Graham
Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Terry Yarwood, Anthony Parker, Linda McDougall
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

A Song For Life

it's the singer not the song

The Night We Shocked Petula

TV Times photo feature on Petula Clark's second This Is Your Life surprise

The day we lost The Big Red Book

Further secrets revealed by producer Malcolm Morris

Petula Clark

Sacha Distel

Screenshots of Charles Aznavour This Is Your Life

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

Maurice Leonard was rather more fortunate when he went to Heathrow to greet Ursula Andress, flying in from Los Angeles to appear on the Life of Charles Aznavour.

She arrived with a Hollywood-star-sized suitcase which Maurice - a muscular lad - bent down to lift into the boot of the waiting car. To his embarrassment he instantly pulled a muscle and remained bent double. The star helped bundle him into the car and proceeded to massage his bare back.

This is what she was doing, with the gallant researcher lying face down in her lap, as the car pulled into the Teddington Studios.

The agony and the ecstasy.

Series 20 subjects