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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Michael Buerk, journalist, was surprised by Michael Aspel while recording an edition of the BBC television programme Food and Drink at the Petersham Hotel in Surrey.

Michael, who was born in Solihull, began his career with the Bromsgrove Messenger, the South Wales Echo, and the Daily Mail in Manchester. In 1970, he joined BBC Radio Bristol and after a short stint with HTV Bristol, he joined BBC TV News in 1973.

In addition to anchoring the Nine O'Clock News, Michael worked as a special correspondent reporting from global hot spots such as El Salvador, Belfast, The Falklands and South Africa. His report on the Ethiopian famine in October 1984 led to the Band Aid charity single and the following year’s Live Aid concerts.

programme details...

• Edition No: 943
• Subject No: 919
• Broadcast date: Wed 7 Feb 1996
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Fri 2 Feb 1996
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 36
• Edition: 23
• Code name: Rescue

on the guest list...

• Christine - wife
• Bob Geldof
• Roland - son
• Simon - son
• Peter Sissons
• David Swift
• Marjorie - aunt
• John Badmin
• Glyn Mathias
• Janet Daley
• Dr David Starkey
• Rabbi Hugo Gryn
• Michael Mansfield
• Martin Kitchen
• Brian Hanrahan
• Mohamed Amin
Filmed tribute:
• Desmond Tutu

related appearances...

• Hewitt Clark - Nov 1999
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• John Craven - Mar 2000
• John Humphrys - Jan 2001
• Midge Ure - Mar 2001
• Charles Collingwood - Feb 2003

production team...

• Researcher: Clare de Vries
• Writer: Alec Lom
• Director: Brian Klein
• Associate Producer: John Graham
• Executive Producer: Peter Estall
• Producer: Malcolm Morris

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

News At Ten

reporting the news

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Screenshots of Michael Buerk This Is Your Life