Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - James Chipperfield, circus owner and animal trainer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre.

Born into his family’s travelling circus, Jimmy began his working life as, amongst other things, a clown, a wire-walker and an acrobat. Following the Second World War, in which he served as a fighter pilot in the RAF, he and his brother Dick developed the business into the biggest circus ever seen in Europe, boasting a 6000 capacity tent.

Jimmy also involved himself with farming, training animals for films and organising showjumping trials, and would go on to introduce Britain’s first drive-through safari park.

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 Chipperfield - brother
• Bruni the bear
• Matron Scott
• Rosie Chipperfield - wife
• Billy Baker
• Mr & Mrs John Wilson
• John Hunt
• Group Captain Slade OBE
• Colonel Tarald Weisten DFC
• Wing Commander Gonsalves DSO DFC
• Mary Chipperfield - daughter
• Ted Williams
• Mrs Winner
• Mr Stubbs the chimpanzee
• Jacqueline Jones
• Richard Hearne
• Henry Manning
• Louis Singho

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