Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Alan Stratford Johns, actor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while rehearsing a scene for the BBC television series, Z Cars, at the BBC Television Centre.

Stratford, who was born and grew up in South Africa, began performing in amateur dramatics while working for a firm of accountants. After serving in the South African Navy and the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he relocated to the UK in 1948 to begin a career as an actor, working in repertory theatre at Southend and Kendal.

Having settled in London in 1952, he found parts on television and in films, while at the same time managing a small hotel in St Martin's Lane. In 1962, he was cast in the BBC police series Z-Cars as Detective Inspector Charlie Barlow, a role which made him a household name.

programme details...

• Edition No: 227
• Subject No: 228
• Broadcast date: Thu 3 Oct 1963
• Broadcast time: 8.35-9.00pm
• Recorded: Wed 18 Sep 1963 8.45pm
• Repeated: Sun 8 Sep 1991 6.00pm
• Venue: BBC Television Centre
• Series: 9
• Edition: 1

on the guest list...

• Joan Sims
• David - brother
• Joan Francis
• Spike Fiander
• Iris Sadler
• Valerie Dene
• Paco Ruiz
• Teresa Maisal
• Nannette Ryder - wife
• Frith - daughter
• Peta - daughter
• Alan - son
• Frank Windsor
• Colin Welland
• James Ellis
• Joseph Brady
• Brian Blessed
• Terence Edmond
Filmed tributes:
• Mrs Johns - mother
• Rupert Davies

related appearances...

• Pete Murray - Dec 1973
• Frank Windsor - Dec 1975
• Anthony Newley - Dec 1992

production team...

• Researcher: Nickola Sterne
• Writer: Nickola Sterne
• Director: Michael Goodwin
• Producer: Vere Lorrimer
• Executive 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

Rupert Davies

James Ellis

Frank Windsor

Photographs and screenshots of Stratford Johns This Is Your Life