This Is Your Life: David Bellamy

David BELLAMY (1933-2019)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - David Bellamy, botanist and broadcaster, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the foyer of Thames Television's Teddington Studios, where he had been working on his new television series.

David, who was born in London and grew up in Cheam, worked as a laboratory assistant at Ewell Technical College before pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at Chelsea College of Science and Technology. In 1960, he became a senior lecturer in Botany at the University of Durham.

He published over 80 scientific papers and wrote several books, earning him worldwide academic recognition and paving the way for a career in broadcasting. David appeared on the ITV science programme Don't Ask Me before presenting various television series, such as Bellamy on Botany and Botanic Man.

"You rotten lot!"

programme details...

Edition No: 503
Subject No: 501
Broadcast date: Wed 20 Dec 1978
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Wed 15 Nov 1978
Venue: New London Theatre
Series: 19
Edition: 9
Code name: Five

on the guest list...

Rosemary - wife
Rufus - son
Henrietta - daughter
Brighid - daughter
Magnus Pyke
Winifred - mother
Thomas - father
Gervais - brother
Jim Barnes
Gordon Polson
George Fluck
Alan Galvin
Ed Cossins
Mont Hirons
Arty Shaw
Ian Purvis
David Woolf
Maggie Bradshaw
Vera Froy - mother-in-law
Eoghain - son
David Valentine

production team...

Researchers: Catherine Parnall, Sue Jerrard
Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Royston Mayoh, Terry Yarwood
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Life As We Know It

highlighting the experts

Magnus Pyke

Screenshots of David Bellamy This Is Your Life

David Bellamy recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, Jolly Green Giant...

The university had given me two years' unpaid leave to complete this mammoth project, and as I walked out of the editing suite at Thames Television, having put the final touches to the last episode, I was greeted by the whole production team in the foyer.

In the corner was a large wooden crate in which they told me was my diving gear. As I stepped forward to take a look, out jumped Eamonn Andrews, the red This Is Your Life book clasped in his hands.

Rosemary had managed to keep this a complete secret and as I had left home that morning a team of helpers had moved in to get the family down to London for the programme. It was a wonderful experience and great to see so many old friends and colleagues.

The last surprise before I was handed the book was Rosemary's mum carrying in Eoghain, then three years of age, in her arms. He gave the final tribute: 'Dad you're brilliant.'

Series 19 subjects