This Is Your Life: Jack Berg

Jack 'Kid' BERG (1909-1991)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Jack Berg, former boxer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while attending an art exhibition of his daughter Stephenie's work at Kettner's Restaurant in Soho, London.

Born Judah Bergman of immigrant Russian-Jewish parents in the East End of London, Jack began his boxing career at the age of 14, boxing his way to success at Premierland and the Royal Albert Hall. Following his 1930 victory over Mushy Callaghan, which won him the World Light-Welterweight Championship, he went to America, where his classic fights with Tony Canzoneri and Kid Chocolate gained him worldwide fame.

Jack won the British Lightweight title on his first attempt in 1934 and accumulated a career total of well over 200 fights. After retiring from boxing, he worked as a film stuntman and later owned a restaurant in London. Known as the Whitechapel Windmill, Jack was the only living British boxer in the American Hall of Fame.

"Oh Eamonn... no!"

programme details...

Edition No: 718
Subject No: 715
Broadcast date: Wed 14 Jan 1987
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Thu 30 Oct 1986
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 27
Edition: 14
Code name: Ice

on the guest list...

Morya - wife
Stephenie - daughter
Sadie - sister
Becky - sister
Marie - sister
Jonathan - nephew
Madeline - Jonathan's wife
Meima - Jonathan's daughter
Tony - nephew
Penny - Tony's wife
James - Tony's son
Laura - Tony's daughter
30 members of family - in audience
Terry Allen
Walter McGowan
Charlie Magri
Johnny Caldwell
Howard Winstone
Kenny Buchanan
John H Stracey
Maurice Hope
Terry Downes
Alan Minter
Dennis Andries
Nat Fishman
David Alderman
Sam Greenberg
Joe Greenberg
Lou Sugarman
Benji Huss
Gussie Huss
Harry Mizler
Harry Davis
Jack Lewis
George Odwell
Pat Butler
Johnny Cuthbert
Nosher Powell
Lloyd Honeyghan
Frank Bruno
Ray Arcel
Henry Cooper
John Huston

production team...

Researcher: Caroline Blackadder
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

related pages...

Life In The Ring

from flyweight to heavyweight

Screenshots of Jack Berg This Is Your Life

John Harding recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Whitechapel Whirlwind: The Jack 'Kid' Berg Story...

Berg appeared in Carry On films, had small parts in television and even managed an uncredited extra part in a Star Wars film.

His most prominent role came in 1987, however, when he was cornered by TV personality and one-time boxing commentator Eamonn Andrews at Kettner's Restaurant in Soho and presented with the Big Red Book. (He later revealed to me that he'd badgered Andrews for some time for a slot on the show.)

Jack took the succeeding This Is Your Life programme in his stride, greeting old pals and present-day boxers, world champs, family and friends with the same self-regarding insouciance.

Henry Cooper sent greetings from Spain, where he was playing golf (You are now the Daddy of British boxing). There was a procession of post-war British world champions past and present, including Terry Allen, Walter McGowan, Charlie Magri, Johnny Caldwell, Howard Winstone, Ken Buchanan, John H Stracey, Maurice Hope, Terry Downes, Alan Minter, and Dennis Andries, who'd won a world title in the meantime.

Then came a clutch of his old Whitechapel boyhood chums followed on screen by film director John Huston live from Los Angeles recalling the Kid Chocolate fight: 'Only through your inner power did you succeed... I salute you still.'

Harry Mizler then appeared along with various old-time fighters, including a dazzled and bemused Johnny Cuthbert, who almost walked off set as the curtain parted.

East End character 'Nosher' Powell recalled working with Berg on a 'Larry' Olivier film of Henry VIII. Lloyd Honeyghan then appeared wearing his own world title belt incongruously over a silk suit accompanied by Frank Bruno carrying Jack's world title belt, clutching it in his giant fists like an egg that might crack.

The finale to the show was provided by 87-year-old ex-trainer Ray Arcel, first on film from New York, recalling the old times, then suddenly appearing in person to be greeted by Berg with genuine tears.

Series 27 subjects