Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Elaine Paige, singer and actress, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during the curtain call of the musical Evita at the Prince Edward Theatre in London.

Elaine, who was born in High Barnet, began performing at school before training with the Aida Foster Theatre School. She made her professional stage debut in 1964 with a tour of the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd.

After making her West End debut in the chorus of the 1968 production of the musical Hair, she spent a decade appearing in various musicals, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Billy and Grease, in which she played the lead role of Sandy. After months of auditions, she was offered the much-coveted title role of Eva Peron in the first stage production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's new musical Evita in 1978.

programme details...

• Edition No: 509
• Subject No: 506
• Broadcast date: Wed 31 Jan 1979
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Thu 18 Jan 1979
• Venue: New London Theatre
• Series: 19
• Edition: 15
• Code name: Book

on the guest list...

• Gary Bond
• Joss Ackland
• Mike Redway
• Paul Curtis
• Hazell Dean
• Johnnie Stewart
• Irene - mother
• Eric - father
• Reg Varney
• Marion - sister
• Richard - brother-in-law
• Stanley Jackson
• Carolyne - cousin
• Ann Kirkby
• Wendy Padbury
• Paul Nicholas
• Tim Rice
• Andrew Lloyd Webber
• John Christie
Filmed tributes:
• Dustin Hoffman
• David Essex

related appearances...

• Andrew Lloyd Webber - Nov 1980
• Wayne Sleep - Oct 1981
• Paul Nicholas - Oct 1991
• Bill Kenwright - Feb 1994
• Andrew Lloyd Webber - Nov 1994
• David Essex - Dec 1995
• Don Black - Nov 1996
• Mary Ward - Dec 1997
• Barbara Dickson - Oct 1998
• Laurie Holloway - Mar 2000
• Anita Dobson - Mar 2002

production team...

• Researcher: John Graham
• Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
• Directors: Royston Mayoh, Terry Yarwood
• Producer: Jack Crawshaw

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

Life is a Cabaret

a musical theatre chorus line

Joss Ackland

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Paul Nicholas

Reg Varney

Screenshots of Elaine Paige This Is Your Life