Radio Times
This Is Your Life Radio Times feature
Harry S Pepper This Is Your Life Harry S Pepper This Is Your Life Harry S PEPPER

26 November 1956

The composer and songwriter who became a BBC producer was surprised by Eamonn at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith.
Harry is perhaps best known for his association with the popular BBC radio variety show Band Waggon, which made stars of Arthur Askey and Richard Murdoch - both of whom are guests on his tribute.

     
     
Stuart Hibberd This Is Your Life Stuart Hibberd This Is Your Life Stuart HIBBERD

27 May 1957

Stuart joined the BBC in 1924 and was the chief radio announcer until his retirement in 1951.
Eamonn surprised him in the audience at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith, where the stage had been decorated as a replica of the BBC's Savoy Hill studios in which Stuart made his first radio broadcasts in the early days of the BBC.

     
     
Derek McCulloch This Is Your Life Derek McCulloch This Is Your Life Derek MCCULLOCH

13 February 1964

The BBC radio presenter and producer - best remembered as 'Uncle Mac' from the programmes, Children's Favourites and Children's Hour - was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC Television Theatre despite a slight delay in proceedings due to traffic!
Among those paying tribute to Derek is the children's fiction writer John Kier Cross.

     
     
  Pete Murray This Is Your Life Pete MURRAY

12 December 1973

Eamonn surprised the BBC radio presenter while interviewing the newly crowned Miss World on his Radio 2 morning show at BBC Broadcasting House in central London.
Fellow broadcaster David Jacobs and actresses Diana Dors and Jean Kent are on the guest list.

     
     
Terry Wogan This Is Your Life Terry Wogan This Is Your Life Terry WOGAN

19 April 1978

In a move which made that day's newspaper headlines, Eamonn interrupted Terry's morning radio broadcast to surprise him live on air. The remainder of Terry's Radio 2 show was then broadcast from the back seat of a car that drove him from Broadcasting House to Thames Television's Euston Road Studios, where his tribute was then recorded at 9.30 in the morning!

     
     
Gloria Hunniford This Is Your Life Gloria Hunniford This Is Your Life Gloria HUNNIFORD

12 January 1983

In another live on-air 'pick-up' Eamonn surprised Gloria during a broadcast of her BBC radio show – while she was interviewing the actor Stan Stennett – the subject of the previous week's edition of This Is Your Life!
Gloria's guests include BBC colleague Terry Wogan and singers Val Doonican and Howard Keel.

     
     
Stuart Henry This Is Your Life Stuart Henry This Is Your Life Stuart HENRY

30 November 1983

It was at Kensington's Tara Hotel where Eamonn surprised Stuart by jumping out from inside a birthday cake - supplied to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Radio Luxembourg - where the DJ had worked since 1974. Stuart - who suffers with multiple sclerosis - joined Radio 1 at its launch in 1967, and his tribute sees a reunion of the station's original line-up of DJs.

     
     
Cliff Michelmore and Jean Metcalfe This Is Your Life Cliff Michelmore and Jean Metcalfe This Is Your Life Cliff MICHELMORE and Jean METCALFE

31 December 1986

The broadcasting couple - who met as presenters of the wartime radio programme Forces Favourites - were surprised by Eamonn at Broadcasting House.

In an hour-long New Year's Eve special, the couple are reunited with guests such as singers The Beverley Sisters and Vera Lynn and musician Acker Bilk.

     
     
David Jacobs This Is Your Life David Jacobs This Is Your Life David JACOBS

25 March 1987

Eamonn surprised David live on air during a Radio 2 broadcast from the Ideal Home Exhibition, at London's Earls Court.
The actor and presenter - who gained prominence on BBC Television's Juke Box Jury - was a prolific radio broadcaster with both Radio 1 and Radio 2. His guests include DJ Pete Murray and singer Vera Lynn.

     
     
Alan Freeman This Is Your Life Alan Freeman This Is Your Life Alan FREEMAN

14 October 1987

'Fluff' - as he was affectionately known - was surprised by Eamonn - with the help of Michael Aspel - at Thames Television's Teddington Studios.
Synonymous with Radio 1's Top 40 and Pick of the Pops, Alan was highly regarded among his broadcasting peers, many of whom appear on the show to pay tribute.

     
     
Tony Blackburn This Is Your Life Tony Blackburn This Is Your Life Tony BLACKBURN

22 January 1992

Tony - the first DJ to be heard on BBC Radio 1 when it officially launched in September 1967 - was surprised by Michael at the studios of London's Capital Gold radio station.
Among the guests on Tony's tribute are pop star Marty Wilde and television presenters Keith Chegwin and Maggie Philbin.

     
     
Danny Baker This Is Your Life Danny Baker This Is Your Life Danny BAKER

14 December 1994

Michael surprised his old LWT's Six O'Clock Show colleague during an interview Danny was doing with him for his BBC chat show.
Danny's radio career began with BBC GLR in 1989 after which he moved to the newly launched Radio 5 in 1990, and then on to Radio 1 in 1993. His guests include presenters Jonathan Ross and Jeremy Beadle.

     
     
John Peel This Is Your Life John Peel This Is Your Life John PEEL

24 January 1996

When Michael surprised John at the end of a Top of the Pops recording, he was the longest serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs - having broadcast regulalrly on the station since its launch in 1967.
His tribute includes messages from musician David Bowie, comedian Billy Connolly and record producer and businessman Richard Branson.

     
     
Chris Tarrant This Is Your Life Chris Tarrant This Is Your Life Chris TARRANT

24 March 1997

Chris - the breakfast DJ with London's Capital Radio since 1987 - was surprised by Michael during a charity presentation at Bromley's Phoenix Centre.
Chris is also known for the ITV children's show Tiswas, remembered for its madcap stunts - and his tribute ends with many of the guests - and Michael Aspel - doing floor exercises!

     
     
Dave Lee Travis This Is Your Life Dave Lee Travis This Is Your Life Dave Lee TRAVIS

14 February 2000

The former Radio 1 DJ - known by such nicknames as 'DLT' and 'the Hairy Monster', who famously resigned from the station live on air in 1993 - was surprised by Michael while broadcasting from the studios of GWR Classic Gold.
Dave's studio guests include many fellow disc jockeys, while photographer Lord Lichfield and singer Peter Noone send recorded tributes.

     
     
Bob Harris This Is Your Life Bob Harris This Is Your Life Bob HARRIS

24 July 2003

The broadcaster - who is perhaps best known as presenter of BBC television's The Old Grey Whistle Test - was surprised by Michael - again live on air - while interviewing Robin Gibb.
His show is noted for including his 3 ex-wives on the guest list - and has contributions from musicians Suzi Quatro, Judy Tzuke and Elton John.

     

* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details