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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Richard Attenborough, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during a dinner celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap - in which he had been an original cast member - being held at the Savoy Hotel, from where the programme was then recorded.

During the Second World War Richard served in the Royal Air Force, where he was seconded to the newly-formed RAF Film Unit at Pinewood Studios. His acting career began on stage in shows at Leicester’s Little Theatre, prior to going to study at RADA.

His film career was launched in 1942 with an uncredited role in the Noel Coward / David Lean production In Which We Serve. Richard’s breakthrough role came in 1947 as the psychopathic young gangster in the film of Graham Green’s novel Brighton Rock, and by 1949 he was named sixth most popular British actor as voted by cinema exhibitors.

programme details...

• Edition No: 207
• Subject No:208
• Broadcast date: Tue 18 Dec 1962
• Broadcast time: 7.55-8.25pm
• Recorded: Sun 25 Nov 1962 8.45pm
• Venue: Savoy Hotel
• Series: 8
• Edition: 12

on the guest list...

• Sheila Sim - wife
• David Attenborough - brother
• John Attenborough - brother
• Mona Pickles
• Allan Russell
• John Mills
• Johnnie Harris
• John Boulting
• Yolande Donlan
• Michael Relph
• Alan Barnes
• Brian Kneal
• Rev James Butterworth
• Michael Attenborough - son
• Jane Attenborough - daughter
• boys and girls from Clubland
Filmed tributes:
• Noel Coward
• Bryan Forbes
• Peter Sellers

related appearances...

• Dulcie Gray - Mar 1973
• John Frost - Apr 1977
• John Mills - Oct 1983
• Peter Saunders - Nov 1992
• Sydney Samuelson - Jun 1994
• Michael Craig - Jun 1994
• Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray - Apr 1995
• Donald Woods - Dec 2000
• Saeed Jaffrey - Nov 2001

production team...

• Researcher: Alan Haire
• Writer: Nickola Sterne
• Director: Vere Lorrimer
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

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

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

James Butterworth

John Mills

Screenshots of Richard Attenborough This Is Your Life