This Is Your Life: Pam St Clement

Pam ST CLEMENT (1942-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Pam St Clement, actress, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming a scene for the BBC television soap opera EastEnders at the BBC Elstree Studios.

Pam, who was born in Harrow but grew up in Devon and West Sussex, trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama. After a spell with Joan Littlewood at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, she toured in repertory theatre, including a world tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hedda Gabler.

On television, Pam appeared in dramas such as Within These Walls and A Horseman Riding By. Having seen her performance in the 1980 television play Not for the Likes of Us, the producers of the BBC soap opera EastEnders cast her as Pat Butcher in June 1986 - a role that made her a household name.

"Oh, I don't believe this! Oh no! What does one say at this time? Michael... I'll murder you! At least allow me to change my earrings, please?!"

programme details...

Edition No: 923
Subject No: 901
Broadcast date: Wed 20 Sep 1995
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Mon 11 Sep 1995
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 36
Edition: 3
Code name: Orange

on the guest list...

cast members of EastEnders
Shaun Williamson
Letitia Dean
Mike Reid
Tony Caunter
Alexia Demetriou
James Dodding
Larry Dann
Isla Blair
Paul Moriarty
Michael French
Simon Williams
Lily Savage
Gilly Fraser
Sue Johnston
Anna Wing
June Brown
Elizabeth Dawn
Ian McKellen
Glenda Jackson

production team...

Researcher: Clare de Vries
Writer: Ian Brown
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

related pages...

East End Life

Albert Square's finest

Screenshots of Pam St Clement This Is Your Life

Pam St Clement recalls her experience of This Is Your Life in her autobiography, The end of an earring...

Occasionally, there were not only memorable, but unexpected, moments in the working week. It was one of those bonus days when one is called in to do a little scene and is free for the rest of the day. The favourite thing was to be in work early so that, when you had finished, the rest of the day spread before you like a luxurious carpet; free time for chores, script learning of course, maybe going to the theatre, a movie or even just socialising. On a particular day, in 1995, I was called in for mid-afternoon to do a few lines with Wendy. The scene had been written only a day or so before as an additional one. I assumed it had been added to an episode that was running under the allocated time; especially as it was a piece of nonsense that took place at the far end of the market while we were looking at Hallowe'en decorations. I was struck most forcefully by Wendy's equanimity as she too had been hauled in just to do that scene. Normally, she would have been extremely critical of such a thin piece of work, as well as the parentage of everyone involved. I made my opinion plain enough but I was not getting any encouragement from her. Indeed she seemed to be twinkling and on the verge of laughter. How odd, I thought, a fleeting response that went no further. After the scene was in the can, the first assistant director called everyone over, en masse, to the Queen Vic to announce that filming would resume after a forty-five-minute supper break. That was unusual; we all knew the routine. It was weird, why weren't the cast, supporting artists, crew, costume and make-up dashing off to put their feet up or to have a bite to eat? Suddenly, over my right shoulder I heard a familiar voice say, Hello, ladies. Nice day for a stroll through Walford I must say. This isn't an interruption actually, because this scene was created so that I could turn up this evening to say, "This Is Your Life"?

I turned to see Michael Aspel and assumed that he was talking to Wendy. I didn't even wonder whether she had been 'caught' before. It became apparent while I was looking at her and smiling inanely that, in fact, the victim was me. The smile became a perplexed rictus as I battled to look cool and not the bumbling idiot I felt. How embarrassing, but I covered that with a quick quip.

Michael must have seen the panic in my eyes that read: Heathrow, Channel Tunnel, anywhere … just run! No such luck. It became apparent that a member of the This Is Your Life production team would drive me home, stay with me while I chose an outfit and accoutrements, then drive me on to Teddington Studios. Oh Lord, I was under unarmed guard! The tension built up to the point where I was flinging clothes all over the bedroom with my expletives sounding more like the opening scene of Four Weddings and a Funeral. They had contacted Aunt Sylvia for background history and to invite her to the recording of the show, but she had made it clear that she didn't want to collude in the invasion of my privacy. My agent and a couple of people at work had been asked for facts about my life and they too were uncertain as to whether I would like to be part of that programme. In the final event, it was a delightful evening and a great honour to be with friends, workmates, college tutors and many people from EastEnders. I must have had the odd tincture before going on stage because I seem to remember being completely calm and not overwhelmed by the occasion. Looking back, it was a bit like a waking dream. It seemed so odd, at the party afterwards, to be both guest of honour and host at the same time.

Series 36 subjects