This Is Your Life: Dennis Waterman

Dennis WATERMAN (1948-2022)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Dennis Waterman, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while filming a scene for the ITV police drama series The Sweeney on location in central London.

Dennis, who was born in Clapham, attended the Corona Stage School and began his acting career as a child, appearing in the 1961 London stage production of the musical The Music Man and on television in the BBC children's series William, based on the Just William books.

Having successfully transitioned from child to adult actor, he got his big break in the 1968 film Up the Junction. On television, he appeared in the BBC drama series The Sextet before being cast in the ITV police drama series The Sweeney as Detective Sergeant George Carter - a role that made him a household name.

"OK! Fine! Is this an extra? We haven't finished the scene, have we?"

programme details...

Edition No: 487
Subject No: 485
Broadcast date: Wed 5 Apr 1978
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Wed 22 Mar 1978
Venue: Euston Road Studios
Series: 18
Edition: 20
Code name: Bill

on the guest list...

John Thaw
Patricia Maynard - wife
Vera - sister
Joy - sister
Kenneth - brother
Peter - brother
Stella - sister
Norma - sister
Myrna - sister
Richard O'Sullivan
Sarah Maddern
Suzy Kendall
Adrienne Posta
Lawrie McMenemy
Chris Lewis
George Layton
Teddy Maybank
Julian Wilson
Alan Mullery
Diana Chesney
Hannah - daughter
Robert Powell
Harry - father
Susan George
Victor Maddern

production team...

Researchers: Tony Lee, Lavinia Warner
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...

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Family Life

keeping it in the family

ITV This is Your Life

A special edition celebrating ITV's 21st anniversary

Screenshots of Dennis Waterman This Is Your Life

Dennis Waterman recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, ReMinder...

The next time all the siblings were together was when I was the subject of This Is Your Life. We had a wonderful, very long night but the overwhelming feeling was of sadness that Mum had missed it. Not only because it was a sort of honour for me, but because she had definitely been Eamonn Andrews' biggest fan.

Looking back on This Is Your Life, I realise now you have got to be absolutely stupid not to figure out what's going on. What am I? Absolutely stupid! Suddenly there are loads of phone calls for your partner and nobody wants to leave a message. I must have been in a remarkably placid state of mind because nothing seemed untoward to me. I do have a tendency to jealousy, and quite often just a slightly strange phone call can get my insecurities buzzing. However it does give you a clue as to how sneaky your partner can be.

I was caught by the man with the red book on the set of The Sweeney and whisked off to the studio, where I was not allowed out of the dressing room unaccompanied (not even to go to the loo) just in case I saw who was going to be on the show.

It was a memorable night. All my mates from The Sweeney were there, of course, together with friends and family, including my three sisters secretly flown over from LA.

Emotion, and nerves too, play havoc with your head. You hear voices over the speakers that you know so well, and your mind goes blank. I feel shamefaced even now that I didn't recognise the voice of my sister Vera. And when my two brothers came on, I was so thrilled, I had this urge to hug them! I didn't, of course. It was not done in our family. We had a terrific night which finally finished at five in the morning, I think!

Series 18 subjects