Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Jack SMETHURST (1932-2022)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Jack Smethurst, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.
Jack, who was born in Collyhurst, Manchester, worked as an apprentice cutter in a raincoat factory and did seasonal agricultural work in Lincolnshire before being called up for his national service in the RAF. After deciding to become an actor, he trained at the London Academy of Dramatic Arts and later worked in repertory theatre in Hornchurch.
He made his film debut in Carry on Sergeant in 1958 before appearing in small parts in various 1960s films, including Saturday Night, Sunday Morning and A Kind of Loving. In 1972, he became a household name when he was cast as a racist, socialist union leader in the controversial sitcom Love Thy Neighbour.
programme details...
- Edition No: 345
- Subject No: 346
- Broadcast date: Wed 24 Jan 1973
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Wed 17 Jan 1973
- Venue: unknown
- Series: 13
- Edition: 11
on the guest list...
- unknown
related appearances...
- Denis Law - Feb 1975
- Nina Baden-Semper - Mar 1975
- Mollie Sugden - Apr 1975
- Joss Ackland - Dec 1976
- Nat Jackley - Apr 1980
- John Thaw - Mar 1981
- Bob Monkhouse - Feb 1982
- Barbara Windsor - Sep 1992
- Rudolph Walker - Nov 1999
- The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
production team...
- Researcher: unknown
- Writer: unknown
- Director: Margery Baker
- Producer: Malcolm Morris
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
Series 13 subjects
Pat Phoenix | Bill Griffiths | Shirley Bassey | Warren Mitchell | Dudley Moore | Phyllis Calvert | Larry Grayson | Clive SullivanBill Shankly | Willie Carson | Jack Smethurst | Mary Peters | Noele Gordon | James Corrigan | Pat Reid | Diana Coupland
Dulcie Gray | Janet Adams | Rita Hunter | Leslie Crowther | Jimmy Logan | Spike Milligan | Jackie Pallo
John Gregson | Jackie Charlton | Francis O'Leary