Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Now firmly re-established as a BBC programme - although still produced by the newly independent Thames Television production company - This Is Your Life returned with series 37, offering a wide range of subjects which included several BBC-contracted personalities, understandably reflecting the corporation's output.
For the first time since 1964, the broadcast day changed from Wednesday to Friday, as halfway through the run, it moved again to Monday, where it officially remained for the next four years.
The press reported on the programme's slump in the ratings, from 18 million in the heyday of the mid-1970s to a current 6 million, and speculated on its possible end in an ever-increasingly competitive television environment.
However, the new production team - created after Malcolm Morris's retirement - of new producer John Graham, who had previously worked on the team as a researcher and associate producer, and former producer Jack Crawshaw - who returned as Editorial Consultant - proved there is still life in the big red book!
related pages...
the show's fifty year history
Ratings slump sounds death knell for This Is Your Life
Press speculation on the future of This Is Your Life
| Steve REDGRAVE | Rower | 20 September 1996 |
| Gary RHODES | Restaurateur and television chef | 27 September 1996 |
| Toyah WILLCOX | Singer and actress | 4 October 1996 |
| Freddie YOUNG | Cinematographer | 11 October 1996 |
| John MOTSON | Football commentator | 18 October 1996 |
| Jeremy CLARKSON | Journalist, writer and television presenter | 25 October 1996 |
| John RANDS | Royal Air Force Officer | 1 November 1996 |
| Jill DANDO | Journalist, television presenter and newsreader | 8 November 1996 |
| Don BLACK | Lyricist | 15 November 1996 |
| Sue NICHOLLS | Actress | 29 November 1996 |
| Lynn REDGRAVE | Actress | 6 December 1996 |
| Tanni GREY | Wheelchair athlete | 13 December 1996 |
| Noddy HOLDER | Musician, songwriter and actor | 20 December 1996 |
| Thora HIRD | Actress | 30 December 1996 |
| Richard MADELEY and | Television presenters | 6 January 1997 |
| Judy FINNIGAN | ||
| Sam TORRANCE | Golfer | 13 January 1997 |
| John SIMPSON | Television journalist | 20 January 1997 |
| Elizabeth WARD | Charity founder | 27 January 1997 |
| Ross KEMP | Actor | 3 February 1997 |
| Julian BREAM | Classical guitarist | 10 February 1997 |
| Les DENNIS | Comedian, actor and television presenter | 17 February 1997 |
| Nigel DAVENPORT | Actor | 24 February 1997 |
| Richard WHITELEY | Television presenter and journalist | 3 March 1997 |
| Justin HAYWARD | Musician and singer-songwriter | 10 March 1997 |
| Sian PHILLIPS | Actress | 17 March 1997 |
| Chris TARRANT | Television and radio presenter | 24 March 1997 |
Broadcast details and Production team
Thames Television production for BBC26 editions | 25 x 30 minutes | 1 x 40 minutes
Friday | 8.00pm x 9 | 7.00pm x 4
Monday | 6.50pm x 1 | 7.00pm x 12
Production team
Producer: John Graham | Executive Producers: John Longley, Gill Stribling-WrightAssociate Producer: Sue Green | Editorial Consultant: Jack Crawshaw
Directors: Terry Kinnane, Paul Kirrage, Rick Gardner, Peter Wisdom, Steve Docherty, Brian Klein, Wendy J Dyer
Writers: Ian Brown, Alec Lom, Joe Steeples, Simon Booker, Clare de Vries, Maurice Leonard
Researchers: Elizabeth Ross, Ian Brown, Clare de Vries, Ruth Malone, Avril Norton, Jo Grant
Production Assistant: Irene Maxwell-Clark | Production Manager: Mandy Lee | Programme Co-ordinator: Dawn Gray
Music: Laurie Johnson | Designer: Martin Collins | Film Research: Susan Tiplady