This Is Your Life: Shaun Williamson

Shaun WILLIAMSON (1965-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Shaun Williamson, actor, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming a scene for the BBC television soap opera EastEnders at the BBC Elstree Studios.

Having tried various jobs, including three years as a postman, a short stint in the Royal Navy, a Bluecoat entertainer at a Pontin's holiday camp and a holiday rep in Tenerife, Shaun decided to become an actor and enlisted with the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in the early 1990s at the relatively late age of 27.

One of his first acting jobs after training in 1994 was a small part as a paramedic in an episode of the BBC television soap opera EastEnders. Six months later, after several minor roles in other television dramas, Shaun returned to EastEnders as Barry Evans, a part which made him a household name.

programme details...

Edition No: 1081
Subject No: 1056
Broadcast date: Wed 24 Oct 2001
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.05pm
Recorded: Mon 15 Oct 2001 9.30pm
Repeated: Mon 2 Sep 2002 7.30pm
Venue: Fountain Studios
Series: 42
Edition: 2
Code name: Baz

on the guest list...

Melanie - wife
cast members of EastEnders
Martin Kemp
Rudolph Walker
Pam St Clement
Tony Caunter
Lucy Speed
Pat - father
Irene - mother
Theresa - sister
Trevor Fagg
Damian Archer
Henry O'Shea
Sister Mary Murphy
Daisy - nan
Neil Edwards
Gary Abbott
Alex Willson
Ian Seath
John Neeves
Angie Fling
Mario Constantine
Emma Cunniffe
Francine Lewis
Steve Furst
Tony Blackburn
Dave Lee
Sophie - daughter
Trisha - mother-in-law
Dale Winton
Michelle O'Shea
children from Shaun's village nursery
Barry McGuigan

production team...

Researcher: Emma Dooley
Writer: Ian Brown
Director: John Gorman
Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
Executive Producer: John Longley
Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
Producer: Sue Green

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

East End Life

Albert Square's finest

Shaun Williamson recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in June 2017

Screenshots of Shaun Williamson This Is Your Life

Shaun Williamson recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, A Matter of Facts...

And so, finally, there I was. Only five years after my appearance as Paramedic Two, I clutched my first two-year contract (the longest contract issued to any cast member and proof that you've 'arrived') and settled down to become one of the cherished 'inner circle', cemented by my appearance on a particular TV show in 2001. We were just finishing a long, eleven-hour days filming in The Queen Vic and the last scene was between me and Lucy Speed. All I wanted was to get in my car, speed the two hours home to Kent and relax in my local village pub with a few beers. We completed the scene and I was convinced it was a 'wrap', but the director called for another take, claiming that there hadn't been enough video left in the camera. During the next take, I heard a commotion going on behind me and turned sharply to see who was ruining the scene and delaying my cherished pint. It was Michael Aspel, complete with a Big Red Book bearing the legend This Is Your Life. I immediately congratulated Lucy Speed, who had numerous credits as a child actor under her belt as well. But no. It was for ME! As all my fellow actors stood and applauded, I felt a sudden mixture of confusion and embarrassment. Why me? I was only 35 and had been in the show a mere six years. I mentioned this to the researcher and also that I always enjoyed the shows that featured lifeboat men who'd saved hundreds of lives or female French resistance fighters, but she pointed out that when these people were revealed as the subjects, four million people switched off. That's why they needed to keep up their quota of soap stars and footballers. Anyway, there was no time to dwell on that as I was whisked away in a people carrier to the studios at Teddington Lock, where I was deposited in a dressing room with a suit provided by Melanie (by now my wife) and, mercifully, an ice bucket full of chilled beer. The crazy thing about This Is Your Life is that although it's one of the highlights of one's life/career, you have absolutely no input into the evening. Melanie had done a great job, though, and, as I stepped onto the stage, there were no nasty surprises or indeed anyone that I wouldn't have wanted there. Looking back at it now (Adele transferred it from VHS to DVD as a thoughtful birthday present), I feel a conflict of emotions. We all look so bloody young for a start. They start off with a compilation of my highlights from the show and then introduce the cast of EastEnders, who walk on to a tumultuous reception from the studio audience. They are followed by Dad, Mum and my sister Theresa and so many friends who have gone out of their way to contribute. Trevor Fagg, whom I haven't seen for ten years, Damian Archer flying in from South Africa, Neil Edwards, Gary Abbott and Ian Seath from Post Office days. Alex Willson from HMS Raleigh. Angie and Mario from Club 18-30 days. It is a very unstarry tribute, which is accurate as I was never one to hang out in The Groucho Club. Also featured are Sister Mary from St Simon Stock Secondary School and Mr Henry O'Shea from Holy Family Junior School, my former head teachers. My daughter Sophie steals the show, however, as when she is introduced, she runs straight past me into the arms of my Mother, much to the hilarity of the audience. Personal messages from Dale Winton, Tony Blackburn and Barry McGuigan also feature and I close the proceedings with a rousing rendition of 'Danny Boy'.

Series 42 subjects