Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Gary WILMOT (1954-)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Gary Wilmot, impressionist, singer and comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while rehearsing for the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Lewisham Theatre.
Gary, who was born in Kennington, south London, had various jobs after leaving school, including work on building sites and in factories before deciding to try his luck in show business. After performing on the variety club circuit, he got his big break appearing on ITV's talent show New Faces in 1978.
More television work followed, including comedy series such as Copy Cats and The Saturday Gang and appearances on London's regional magazine programme The Six O'Clock Show. In 1985, after a successful summer season in Blackpool, he gave a headline-grabbing performance at that year's Royal Variety Performance.
"I don't believe it! Well, well, well... what do they usually say at this point?"
programme details...
- Edition No: 715
- Subject No: 711
- Broadcast date: Wed 24 Dec 1986
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Wed 17 Dec 1986
- Venue: Teddington Studios
- Series: 27
- Edition: 11
- Code name: Cat
on the guest list...
- company members of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Gareth Hale
- Norman Pace
- Kate Robbins
- Carol - wife
- Michael Aspel
- Danny Baker
- Cheryl Baker
- Reg Docel
- Allan - uncle
- Frank Mannah
- Vernon Nesbeth
- Larry - brother
- Lavinia - sister-in-law
- Stephanie - niece
- Gavin - nephew
- Eunice - aunt
- Bert - uncle
- Roy - father-in-law
- Joy - mother-in-law
- Dee O'Reilly
- Gary Tennant
- John Tennant
- Dave Hall
- Gerald Edwards
- Cliff Etheridge
- Francis Fitzpatrick
- Kevin Sterling
- Gerald Sterling
- Chris Sullivan
- John Scales
- Terry Spinks
- Jarvis Spinks
- Duncan Norvelle
- Peter Finn
- Andrea Arnold
- Wilmot and Company
- Norman Wisdom
- Katie - daughter Filmed tributes:
- Bobby Davro
- Leslie Crowther
- members of the Bedminster Down Boys' Club, Bristol
related appearances...
- Jim Bowen - Apr 1985
- Bobby Davro - Mar 1990
- Danny Baker - Dec 1994
- The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
production team...
- Researchers: Christine Fanthome, Tom Wettengel
- Writer: Norman Giller
- Directors: Terry Yarwood, Michael D Kent
- Associate Producer: Brian Klein
- Producer: Malcolm Morris
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
there's no business like it
a celebration of a thousand editions
the show's fifty year history
Gary Wilmot recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in May 2016
Screenshots of Gary Wilmot This Is Your Life
Series 27 subjects
Bill Waddington | Robert Foote | Carl Davis | Gorden Kaye | Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr | Monty Fresco | Joe JohnsonSusan George | Bill Ward | Rachel Kempson | Gary Wilmot | Cliff Michelmore and Jean Metcalfe | Liz Hobbs | Jack Berg
Derek Scott | Patricia Hodge | Harry Friend | Norman Wisdom | Denis Compton | Christopher Cazenove | Dudley Moore
Terry Marsh | David Jacobs | William Rushton | Gabrielle Drake