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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Derek McCulloch, BBC radio presenter and producer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe he was there to see a different programme.

Derek, who was born in Plymouth, lost an eye and was severely injured while serving with the army during the First World War. Having joined the BBC as an announcer in 1926, he later moved on to Children's Hour, the BBC's principal service for children and by 1933 was in full charge of the programme.

As a pioneer of radio, Derek became a familiar voice to thousands of children, particularly those evacuated from home during the Second World War. Known as 'Uncle Mac', he signed off each programme with his line 'Goodnight children, everywhere'.

"Oh no!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 245
• Subject No: 245
• Broadcast date: Thu 13 Feb 1964
• Broadcast time: 8.50-9.15pm
• Recorded: Mon 3 Feb 1964 8.00pm
• Venue: BBC Television Theatre
• Series: 9
• Edition: 19

on the guest list...

• John Snagge
• Douglas - brother
• Roy Drew
• Mary O'Farrell
• Barry - wife
• Liz Fraser
• John Keir Cross
• Edmund Tustian
• Christopher Gulland
• Brenda Gulland
• Audrey - sister
• Judith - daughter
• Crystal - daughter
• Carolyne -granddaughter
• Simon - grandson
• David -grandson
• Susan - granddaughter
• May Thomas

production team...

• Researcher: Alan Haire
• Writer: Liam Nolan
• Director: Mark Patterson
• Producer: Vere Lorrimer
• Executive Producer: T Leslie Jackson

Radio Times

tuning in the broadcasters

Photographs of Derek McCulloch This Is Your Life

Daily Herald 14 February 1964

FAVOURITE UNCLE

TV by Dennis Potter

THE BBC paid its own belated tribute last night to the thing it has slaughtered so wantonly - Children's Hour.

The subject of This Is Your Life was Uncle Mac himself.

Derek McCulloch is probably a part of the childhood of millions of us, taking us to the golden paths of Toy Town with a kind of stiff gentleness wholly suited to a favourite uncle.

So hearing some of the old names last night was like staring at a faded family snapshot. And, for once, such a format justified this peculiar TV programme.

FORMIDABLE

Uncle Mac himself emerged as a formidable character. Terribly wounded and abandoned for dead in the first World War, he had the grit to survive for three days and nights alone before crawling back to the British lines.

Of course, there was sentiment aplenty last night - yet somehow it all seems legitimate, if only because a TV tribute to the old radio programmes was needed.

Now the children are to be given the Mersey beat instead.