Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - James Chipperfield, circus owner and animal trainer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews - with the help of actor Richard Hearne - in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe he was there to watch the life story of Group Captain John Cunningham.

James, who was born into one of Britain's most famous circus families, started working in the circus from a young age as a clown, a wire-walker and an acrobat before training animals such as bears and lions. During the Second World War, he enlisted with the RAF and served as a pilot.

After the war, James and his brother Dick travelled throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, developing the business into the biggest circus in Europe. James retired from the circus in 1955 and established a business organising showjumping trials, providing acts for other shows and animals for the film industry.

programme details...

• Edition No: 155
• Subject No: 156
• Broadcast date: Mon 13 Mar 1961
• Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
• Recorded: Mon 27 Feb 1961 7.30pm
• Venue: BBC Television Theatre
• Series: 6
• Edition: 26

on the guest list...

• Dick - brother
• Bruni III the bear
• Matron Scott
• Rosie - wife
• Billy Baker
• John Wilson
• Muriel Wilson
• John Hunt
• Gp Capt Richard Slade
• Col Tarald Weisteen
• Wg Cdr Francis Gonsalves
• Mary Chipperfield - daughter
• Ted Williams
• Sally the Elephant

related appearance...

• Mary Chipperfield - Mar 1977

production team...

• Researcher: Nickola Sterne
• Writer: Nickola Sterne
• Director: Michael Goodwin
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

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

• with thanks to Emma McCormick for his contribution to this page

The Big Top

the circus is in town

Family Life

keeping it in the family

Mary Chipperfield

Richard Hearne

Photographs of James Chipperfield This Is Your Life