Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

• HOME
• |
• SERIES
• |
• SUBJECTS
• |
• FEATURES
• |
• ARTICLES
• |
• INTERVIEWS
• |
• ABOUT

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Ian Lavender, actor, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of actor Bill Pertwee - while dining at a central London restaurant.

Ian, who was born in Birmingham, studied at the Bristol Old Vic Drama School and got his first break in television in February 1968 in the play Flowers at my Feet. Later the same year, he was cast as Private Pike in the BBC sitcom Dad's Army and became a household name, appearing in all 80 episodes.

After Dad's Army ended, Ian worked continuously on television and radio, appearing in such programmes as The Glums, Goodnight Sweetheart, Keeping Up Appearances and a four-year stint on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also appeared in several theatre productions and wrote, directed and appeared in more than 20 pantomimes.

"Have I got to speak? Thank you! Oh you rat bags!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1096
• Subject No: 1072
• Broadcast date: Thu 7 Mar 2002
• Broadcast time: 8.30-9.00pm
• Recorded: Fri 1 Mar 2002
• Venue: Teddington Studios
• Series: 42
• Edition: 17
• Code name: Fish

on the guest list...

• Bill Pertwee
• Michael Knowles
• Jeffrey Holland
• Billy Walker
• Willie Thorne
• Paul - brother
• Dan - son
• Sam - son
• Miki - wife
• Maggie Steed
• Frank Williams
• Pamela Cundell
• Liz Fraser
• Patricia Brake
• Mary Tamm
• Melvyn Hayes
• Nigel Bullock
• Barbara Sach
• Rick Wakeman
• Henry McGee
• Christopher Strauli
• Judy Buxton
• David Croft
• Ann Croft
Filmed tributes:
• Wendy Richard
• David Hyde Pierce
• Jimmy Perry
• Clive Dunn
• Philip Madoc

related appearances...

• Clive Dunn - Mar 1971
• Arnold Ridley - Mar 1976
• Toyah Willcox - Oct 1996
• Bill Pertwee - Feb 1999
• John Bardon - Jun 2003

production team...

• Researcher: Simone O'Neill
• Writer: Joe Steeples
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

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

The Good Life

the sitcom stars

David Croft

Clive Dunn

Bill Pertwee

Rick Wakeman

Screenshots of Ian Lavender This Is Your Life