Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Margaret Kelly, former dancer and choreographer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while rehearsing the Bluebell Girls at the New Lido in Paris, France.

Margaret, who was born in Dublin, was orphaned as a child and grew up with relatives in Liverpool, who nicknamed her 'Bluebell' because of her blue eyes. A keen dancer, she joined a touring troupe as a teenager before appearing with the Jackson Girls in Berlin and later at the Folies Bergere in Paris, where, in 1932, she created her own troupe, the Bluebell Girls, which was soon in demand all over Europe.

Having become the troupe's full-time administrator and choreographer, Margaret, now known as Miss Bluebell, began her association with the Paris Lido in 1947, eventually creating the concept of the dinner show. With the tallest and most beautiful dancers, the Bluebell Girls became an internationally recognised organisation, appearing all over the world, notably in Las Vegas, USA.

"Oh! That's wonderful! What a surprise!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 521
• Subject No: 518
• Broadcast date: Thu 3 May 1979
• Broadcast time: 22.15-22.45pm
• Recorded: Wed 11 Apr 1979
• Venue: Le Meridien Hotel, Paris
• Series: 19
• Edition: 27
• Code name: Flower

on the guest list...

• six unnamed ex-Bluebell Girls
• Kerina Chambers
• Janet Ford
• Timothy Hess
• Karen Bramoff
• Pierre Rambert
• Sylvia Stevenson
• Nina Kowalenski
• Patrick - son
• Tricia - daughter-in-law
• Francis - son
• John Paul - son
• Kim - daughter-in-law
• Anouska - granddaughter
• Florence - daughter
• Mel - son-in-law
• George Kelly - cousin
• Eileen Kelly
• Priscilla Hopwood
• Sunny Caldaron
• Joan Maltinti
• Guy de la Moreniere
• Pierre-Louis Guérin
• Alice Kessler
• Ellen Kessler
• Donn Arden
• Josie Newall

related appearances...

• Ken Dodd - May 1990
• Maureen Moreland - Jan 1992

production team...

• Researcher: Debbie Gaunt
• Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
• Directors: Royston Mayoh, Terry Yarwood
• Producer: Jack Crawshaw

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

A Dancer's Life

from ballet to ballroom

Screenshots of Margaret Kelly This Is Your Life