This Is Your Life: Ted Ray 1

Ted RAY (1905-1977)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Ted Ray, comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews - with the help of actor Peter Cushing - at the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe he was there to watch the recording of a panel game show.

Ted, who was born Charles Olden in Wigan, was raised in Liverpool and began his career in music hall, developing an act called Nedlo the Gypsy Violinist, in which he used a violin as a comedy prop. Then, in 1930 as a regular stand-up comedian with a rapid-fire delivery of jokes, Ted made his London music hall debut, and two years later, appeared at the London Palladium for the first time.

His first radio broadcast was in 1939, but plans for a major radio show were delayed because of the Second World War, so Ted had to wait until 1949 before launching his own radio series - Ray's a Laugh - on BBC radio. The show became an immediate success and made Ted a household name.

Ted Ray was a subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions - surprised again by Eamonn Andrews in February 1975 at his home in Southgate.

programme details...

Edition No: 3
Subject No: 3
Broadcast live: Sun 23 Oct 1955
Broadcast time: 7.45-8.15pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 1
Edition: 3

on the guest list...

G H Elliott
Gordon Ashton
Cyril Saul
Jack Pettit
Harry Wardle
Lena Johnston - sister
Jean Arthur - sister
Sybil - wife
Minty Lawson
Robin - son
Andrew - son
Kitty Bluett

production team...

Researchers: Peter Moore, Nigel Ward
Writer: Gale Pedrick
Director: unknown
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

with thanks to Mark Olden for his contribution to this page

related pages...

Ted Ray

second tribute

It's a Funny Old Life

it's all about the comedy

Life Second Time Around

surprised again!

These Were Your Lives

a review of the first series

A Life Remembered

tributes to the original presenter

The Big Red Book

the programme's icon

This Is My Life

John Bull Magazine interview with Eamonn Andrews

This is Leslie Jackson's Life

Interview with the first producer of This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life by Eamonn Andrews

Weekend Magazine reports from behind-the-scenes

Is This The Best TV Can Do?

The Stage reviews a recent edition

G H Elliott

Photographs of Ted Ray This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Ted Ray's big red book

Ted Ray recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, My Turn Next...

We were at a tribute luncheon at the BBC, and I was fighting to get an aperitif when I saw Dennis Goodwin.

"I think the whole thing is a put-up job for This Is Your Life!" he said. The rumour circulated and rather upset the atmosphere.

It must become increasingly difficult to trap the victim for this highly personalised programme. In America, where the show is also performed, a magazine sent a star reporter along to find out if the show was genuine. The man arrived at the studio, and within five minutes was astounded to find that he himself was the victim!

They caught me beautifully.

Ronnie Waldman at the BBC television studios telephoned me suggesting that I should meet Cecil McGivern, a top BBC executive, and some visitors from Australia who were over here to look at our television.

"Sid Colin the writer, and Peter Cushing the actor, will also be there, and we wanted you to represent Variety," said Ronnie.

It was a nice compliment. I duly arrived at the appointed time a fortnight later, and in the Hospitality Room was introduced to Mr McGivern, he in turn introduced me to Sid Colin, Peter Cushing, and the Australian visitors. We had a drink, then Cecil McGivern suggested that we should let the gentlemen see one of our panel games. We piled into a couple of cars and eventually arrived at the BBC Television Theatre at Shepherd's Bush. I remember Sid Colin led the way in through the stage door. Eamonn Andrews was hanging around the doorway with a trailer mike in his hand.

"Hello, Eamonn," I said. "How are you?"

"Fine," replied Eamonn, "but the point is, how are you?" He led the way to the stage, the curtains opened on a packed audience who heard him deliver his familiar punchline.

"Ted Ray, This Is Your Life."

You could have knocked me down with a swizzle stick. Or a contract.

Anthony Slide recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Just a Regular Bloke, The Ted Ray Story...

Just as an invitation to appear on Desert Island Discs was de riguer for the top stars of radio, so was the surprise of This Is Your Life, hosted by Eamonn Andrews, for those considered to be sufficiently famous and to entertain viewers at the BBC. Ted Ray has the distinction of appearing twice on the show.

On October 23rd, 1955, he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre. On hand were Kitty Bluett, G H Elliott, sister Jean from California, sons Andrew and Robin, and from the Liverpool days, Harry Wardle. The second surprise visit took place on Ted Ray's doorstep. He was taken to Euston Road Studios and the show was recorded on February 19th, 1975, for airing, a week later, on February 26th. Present at that recording were Ben Warriss, Ben Lyon, Noele Gordon, Diana Dors, Patricia Hayes, Robin Ray and his wife, Susan Stranks, and, via a live link, Arthur Askey and Dickie Henderson. The special surprise guests, flown in by the BBC from Rhodesia, were Andrew Ray, his wife and son, Mark. Initially, the BBC had planned to fly in sister Jean from California, but Sybil Ray persuaded them to substitute Andrew Ray and his family.

Aside from twice being the subject of This Is Your Life, Ted Ray was also a guest of the show honouring comedian Reg Varney, broadcast live on May 20th, 1970.

Series 1 subjects