Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Following months of press speculation about the future of This Is Your Life, Thames Television announced that the programme would return to screens in the autumn of 1988.
And so, This Is Your Life was back - for its 29th series - with littering new titles, a new variation of the theme tune and a new presenter, and a former subject, Michael Aspel.
Michael recorded his first This Is Your Life as the new presenter in September 1988 – surprising a musician and actor in London's Covent Garden.
However, the first of Michael’s subjects to be broadcast was a Hollywood and Broadway legend who, only four years before, had received the US version of the Big Red Book.
In a shorter than usual series - with all but four editions recorded from the new set at Teddington Studios, without sliding doors - This Is Your Life discarded some of its traditional formalities, and the presentation style is more relaxed.
And in one edition and a first for This Is Your Life, Michael Aspel, who had worked with the subject many times before, interviewed himself as a guest!
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Paul DANIELS | Magician and television presenter | 2 November 1988 |
Tom FINNEY | Former footballer | 9 November 1988 |
Esther RANTZEN | Journalist and TV presenter | 16 November 1988 |
Richard TODD | Actor | 23 November 1988 |
Engelbert HUMPERDINCK | Singer | 30 November 1988 |
Barry MCGUIGAN | Boxer | 7 December 1988 |
Robert MAXWELL | Media proprietor | 14 December 1988 |
Harry CORBETT | Puppeteer and entertainer | 21 December 1988 |
Cliff MORGAN | Welsh rugby union player | 28 December 1988 |
Roy HUDD | Actor and writer | 4 January 1989 |
Claire RAYNER | Nurse, journalist, broadcaster and novelist | 11 January 1989 |
Cyril MILLS | Circus owner | 18 January 1989 |
Dora BRYAN | Actress | 25 January 1989 |
Margaret HAYLES | Charity founder | 1 February 1989 |
Denis HEALEY | Politician | 8 February 1989 |
Gillian LYNNE | Dancer and choreographer | 15 February 1989 |
Nigel MANSELL | Racing driver | 22 February 1989 |
Su POLLARD | Comedy actress | 1 March 1989 |
Broadcast details
Thames Television production for ITVProduction team
Producer: Malcolm Morris | Directors: Brian Klein, David Clark | Writers: Roy Bottomley, Norman Giller