Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Michael CROFT OBE (1922-1986)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Michael Croft, actor, teacher and writer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews as he left the Shaw Theatre in central London, the base of the National Youth Theatre.
Michael, who was born in Oswestry but grew up in Manchester, had his first taste of theatre in school plays. After serving in the RAF and the Navy during the Second World War, he won an ex-serviceman's scholarship to read English at Oxford, where he also acted.
While teaching at Alleyn's boys' school in London, Michael wrote a novel, Spare the Rod, which was adapted into a film. He left teaching to become a full-time writer in 1956, but having been in charge of play productions while at the school, he saw how drama had benefited the pupils and went on to establish and manage the National Youth Theatre.
"Bastards! Sod 'em!"
programme details...
- Edition No: 480
- Subject No: 478
- Broadcast date: Wed 15 Feb 1978
- Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
- Recorded: Wed 1 Feb 1978
- Venue: Euston Road Studios
- Series: 18
- Edition: 13
- Code name: Youth
on the guest list...
- Diana Quick
- Robin Ellis
- Hywel Bennett
- Kenneth Cranham
- Martin Jarvis
- Barrie Rutter
- Derek Jacobi
- Paul Hill
- Peter Terson
- Willis Hall
- Geoff Sykes
- Hazel Sykes
- Derek Chapman
- Roy Robinson
- William Russell
- Arthur Chesworth
- Alan Brien
- Kenneth Farrington
- Richard Hampton
- David Weston
- Simon Ward
- members of the National Youth Theatre
- Clive Mantle
- Jane Merrow Filmed tributes:
- John Stride
- Julian Glover
- Michael York
- Ralph Richardson
- Albert Finney
production team...
- Researchers: Deborah Gaunt, Lavinia Warner, Tony Lee
- Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
- Directors: Royston Mayoh, Terry Yarwood
- Producer: Jack Crawshaw
- names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
Screenshots of Michael Croft This Is Your Life
Series 18 subjects
Richard Beckinsale | Peter Ustinov | Virginia Wade | Robert Arnott | Lin Berwick | Bob Paisley | The Bachelors | David BroomeArthur English | Barry Sheene | Margot Turner | Pat Coombs | Michael Croft | Max Boyce | Nicholas Parsons | Richard Goolden
Ian Hendry | Marti Caine | Ian Wallace | Dennis Waterman | Anton Dolin | Terry Wogan | William Franklyn | Richard Murdoch
Harry Patterson | Jule Styne | Mike Yarwood