Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
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
related appearances...
- These Were Your Lives - May 1956
- Thora Hird - Jan 1964
- Reg Varney - May 1970
- Bob Hope - Nov 1970
- Dickie Henderson - Feb 1971
- Patricia Hayes - Apr 1972
- Noele Gordon - Feb 1973
- David Nixon - Dec 1973
- Arthur Askey - Dec 1974
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
second tribute
it's all about the comedy
surprised again!
a review of the first series
tributes to the original presenter
the programme's icon
A seven-part article on Eamonn Andrews from John Bull Magazine
Interview with the first producer of This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life by Eamonn Andrews
Weekend Magazine reports from behind-the-scenes
The Stage reviews a recent edition
Photographs of Ted Ray This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Ted Ray's big red book
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.
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.
Evening Telegraph 24 October 1955
GIVEN the ready wit of Ted Ray and a wholesome healthy, homely crowd of relatives and friends who remember his early days, and This is Your Life comes off handsomely (writes R.P.).
Most of the dangers inherent in this digging into people's pasts and confronting them with pals of long ago were avoided on Sunday. But why not do it the simple way and present a feature programme about the man and his work?
Birmingham Gazette 24 October 1955
TV TALK
I must have a streak of meanness in me. Whenever I watch This is Your Life my dominant thought is of the cost of bringing all these people to the studio and whether it is worth while.
Last night's programme seemed to me to be a bit rushed. Ted Ray was an excellent subject, being, apparently, blessed with a good memory, but the general effect was of hesitancy.
It rather looks as though, with the elimination of Ralph Edwards's incredible sentimentality, the programme has also lost whatever it is which makes it a sensational success in America. Perhaps in this country we are not sufficiently interested in other people's friends and relations.
The Liverpool Echo 25 October 1955
MRS. JEAN ARTHUR, of 5 Hylton Road, Springwood, Liverpool, sister of broadcasting comedian Ted Ray, arrived back in Liverpool last night to tell the story of her most closely guarded secret.
She had been one of the people to appear in the BBC's television programme This Is Your Life on Sunday night.
The idea of the programme is that acquaintances and relatives of a well-known personality, while hidden to the cameras, provide pieces of information about the personality's early life. The person, whose life will be unfolded, does not know until the start of the programme that he is the chosen subject.
On Sunday, Mrs. Arthur was one of the people present to add facts about the life of her brother, Charlie Olden - better known under his show business name of Ted Ray.
And the secret she had to keep was the secret of her appearance on the programme.
"It was like espionage work. But Charlie never knew until he was in the studio," said Mrs. Arthur.
The BBC approached Mrs. Arthur only just over a week before the performance and she had to keep strict silence. "Only my husband knew," she said.
"It was awful. I knew I was going to appear on TV but I couldn't tell anyone," she added.
She travelled to London on Friday and took part in the rehearsal on Saturday. Others appearing in the show were at the rehearsal - all except Ted Ray, who was still unaware of all the scheming and his place was taken by a BBC official.
Ted Ray's other sister, Mrs. Lena Johnson, of 370a Bowes Road, London, was one of the others, but the BBC would not let Mrs Arthur stay with her sister in case Ted Ray discovered them together.
On the day of the show Ted Ray was entertaining some Australians on behalf of the BBC and was invited to take them to the Shepherd's Bush studios so that they could see a live television programme. He did so and found himself the star of the show.
EVERY NAME
Besides Ted Ray's two sisters, also in the programme were Cyril Saul, who works in the Liverpool Education Offices and who went to the Collegiate School with Ted Ray; Jack Pettit, of 23 Colmore Road, Norris Green, who appeared with him on the stage many years ago; Gordon Ashton, of 90 Broad Lane, who was a teen-age friend; Harry Wardle, of Liverpool, who appeared with him in his first stage act; G H Elliott, who starred with him, and Kitty Bluett, his radio wife.
They repeated small incidents or phrases to give Ted Ray a clue as to their identity, and he remembered all but one immediately. "He has a remarkable memory," said Mrs. Arthur.
"After the programme we showed him a photograph of all his school and he was able to remember every name of the boys in his form," she said.
Mrs. Arthur last saw Ted Ray in February this year when he was appearing at a Liverpool theatre. But because so many other people were also wanting to see him, she was with him for only ten minutes, and that was the first time she had met him for seven years.
At her home on Sunday her husband, who works in the City Treasury, was watching the programme with their two daughters. "I must have been one of the few watching who knew what was coming," he said.
Leicester Evening Mail 26 October 1955
BRITAIN'S BREEZIEST COMMENTATOR returns to the column of The Evening Mail to take you behind the scenes of TV's most popular programmes
Suspense
YOU can keep your job. I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
So said Gordon Ashton, the confectioner from Liverpool who puzzled Ted Ray with his off-stage voice, just before they met for the first time in 35 years - on Sunday's This Is Your Life.
Gordon was talking to me at the time and not to Ted Ray. It was just before the programme started.
He had seen the little globules of moisture on my forehead and the anxious glances at the door through which the unsuspecting Ted Ray was supposed to arrive exactly two minutes and sixteen seconds later.
He was also thinking of a long day's rehearsal, spent more in forgetting reams of what had been so painstakingly remembered rather than in learning anything new.
Recollections
HE wasn't thinking of What's My Line? because that hadn't happened yet.
Maybe if he's taken that programme into consideration too, he'd have said "I wouldn't touch your job with two barge-poles."
INDEED ON WHAT'S MY LINE? I FEEL AS IF I AM WATCHING THE MAKING OF NEW HISTORY.
If you go back over the years you will recall that the main occupants of the seat next to Gilbert Harding have been Elizabeth Allan and Barbara Kelly.
Liz's technique when a Harding storm was brewing consisted very successfully of cautionary arm squeezes and hard pats.
Barbara took slightly more vigorous, though friendly, precautions - and many's the sharp elbow jab in the ribs the cameras have failed to catch for viewers.
Now that we have Yolande Donlan sitting next to this eloquent brewer of storms I fear the technique has changed.
I suspect that the old-style hand pats and elbow jabs will give way to (or, for all I know, have already given way) to crisp under-the-table shin rapping with those currently fashionable high heels - or to whatever Yolande Donlan considers to be the ladylike equivalent of half-open warfare.
Maybe one of these days I'll be asking Gordon Ashton to lend me one of his bargepoles.
They weren't necessary on This Is Your Life. A friendlier, happier crowd of people I have seldom met.
But what an agony it was waiting in the theatre to see if our plan for getting Ted Ray there materialised.
Ted had been asked specially to come to Cecil McGivern's office at Lime Grove to meet an Australian radio and television delegation, who were supposedly interested during a tour of the studios not only to meet the famous comedian but to learn his views on the presentation of comedy.
The Australians were there all right - but they were really BBC staff men from the Overseas Services.
All ground floor clocks in Lime Grove were put five minutes forward so that Cecil McGivern at "7.46" could say:
"Let's go round to the theatre first. A show has just started there and we'll be able to catch some of it."
The show, of course, still had four minutes to go before opening time.
Half-minute
PRODUCER T LESLIE JACKSON had previously timed the walk from Cecil McGivern's office to a waiting car, the drive around to the theatre and the walk to the stage door.
The result was precisely as hoped for. Ted reached the stage door with half a minute to spare.
Several people got in the way of the "delegation" and delayed them the necessary 30 seconds so that Ted Ray walked through the door just as the cameras swung around and I moved towards him with: "This Is Your Life Ted Ray."
Believe me - Ted was a very bewildered man, but the reflexes of a seasoned trouper came to his aid and he wisecracked and reminisced through his "Life" with a sure-fire aplomb.
In fact, he reacted so well that the programme - without his being aware of it - began to run dangerously overtime.
Left unsaid
I GOT the signal to cut and there was just time to call on that delightful radio wife of his, Kitty Bluett, before we ended the programme.
Actor Kenneth Connor, his television "brother-in-law" was still behind the curtain and a lot was left unsaid. But we had said enough to pay tribute to one of the first men in show business today.
The whole friendly deception could never have been carried out but for Ted's vivacious wife Sybil.
"I left him at home," she said, "with rice pudding and cold meat, and he couldn't understand why he was having no Sunday joint."
"Fortunately it was my mother's birthday and he thought Robin and Andrew and I had gone to see her."
I IMAGINE IT'S THE FIRST TIME THIS IS YOUR LIFE HINGED ON SOMEONE'S MOTHER-IN-LAW.
The Yorkshire Observer 26 October 1955
THAT fact is a plain sight duller than fiction was adequately proved on Sunday night by This Is Your Life.
Here, for a full 30 minutes, Eamonn Andrews read with little expression and no emotion the salient facts from the life of one Charles Olden, more familiarly known to most of us as Ted Ray.
Presumably Mr Ray found some pleasure in being dragged from his Sunday evening relaxation to meet, in public, his wife and children, his two sisters and a friend or so from the past. He showed very little. Indeed, he seemed singularly unhappy about the whole thing.
In which sentiment I have no doubt he was joined by very many viewers.
This Is Your Life is an American importation. In America, I am told, they revel in the opportunity to eavesdrop on the private lives of celebrities and nonentities alike – the more so when the eavesdropping is accompanied by a sticky mass of sentiment.
It would be a pity if the BBC taught British viewers to embrace the less endearing characteristics of our American cousins. Meanwhile, This Is Your Life remains a crashing bore to all but the Peeping Toms – and there was little enough to satisfy their morbid curiosity in the life story of Mr Olden.
Manchester Evening News 28 October 1955
ENTERTAINMENT PARADE
1. MAX NORTH talking TV
Psst! Have you heard the buzz? They say Ted Ray knew well in advance that he was going to be the surprise victim of This Is Your Life last Sunday.
They say that all the BBC's precautions to keep the element of surprise were for naught. They even say the whole programme was a frame-up.
They have been so busy circulating the rumour up and down the country that the BBC has gone hot and red all over and blurted out a denial.
Lime Grove is really very sensitive about this show. Remember the panic when news leaked that Stanley Matthews was to be the first victim? Eamonn Andrews took his place.
WELL, how did the BBC get Ted Ray into the show without him realising it? I'll tell you. And then I'll ask you: Was it really worth the trouble?
Someone from the BBC rang up Ted and said: "Look, we've got three Australian broadcasting chiefs on our hands who are interested in our successful TV programmes. They're starting TV over there soon. And they want to meet YOU."
Imagine Ted's reaction: Australian TV ... me ... fat contract. "I'll be right over," he replied.
At Lime Grove he was shown into a room which contained Peter Cushing, fresh from his award as TV actor of the year, and Sid Colin, scriptwriter.
They were there, Ted was told, because the Australian chiefs were interested also in the BBC's drama and comedy scripts.
Two genuine Australian broadcasting chiefs talked to them as if they were interested in the BBC's successful television programmes in general and Messrs. Ray, Cushing and Colin in particular.
The clock in the room was five minutes fast. (I am not sure why. Possibly to add to the confusion.)
OH, I'd like to believe that Ted Ray set off for the BBC last Sunday evening thinking he was going to have a quiet talk with Australian broadcasting chiefs.
But I don't. I don't believe that it did not occur to Ted Ray, Peter Cushing and Sid Colin that they might find themselves in This Is Your Life.
Nothing will convince me that they did not think to themselves: "Uh-huh, watch it, boy. It might be you. Don't let on. It might not. It might be a double-cross or a double-double-cross."
I don't believe that anyone in show business receiving an invitation to be at Lime Grove on a Sunday evening would be taken in.
AND that is why I ask: "Is it worthwhile?"
Only rarely can the BBC expect to achieve a genuine 100 per cent surprise.
Most Sundays a group of people will find themselves at Lime Grove an hour or so before the programme begins and wonder which one of them is to be the victim. All will be prepared. All but one will be disappointed.
Peter Cushing must have been very cross when he found the victim was Ted Ray. Unless, of course, those Australian broadcasting chiefs had something real to offer him...
The Illustrated Chronicle 29 October 1955
TED RAY was the chosen victim in the latest edition of This Is Your Life, and carried off his part with perfect poise. But I am a sceptical soul and I find it impossible to believe that he didn't know beforehand, or that any of them haven't known.
The whole thing raises an interesting problem. Suppose the research team start investigating somebody who would prefer to have his past left behind him or whose past history contains things he would rather not have exposed to the public gaze.
In practice I'm sure their discretion would be absolute but I don't like the idea of a lot of people digging up other people's lives without so much as a "by your leave".
And I'm still waiting for the night when the victim, if he really doesn't know, says "Not blooming likely" when invited to play his part.
Series 1 subjects
Eamonn Andrews | Yvonne Bailey | Ted Ray | James Butterworth | C B Fry | Johanna Harris | Donald Campbell | Joe BrannellyStanley Matthews | Henry Starling | Ida Cook | Lupino Lane | Hugh Oloff de Wet | Elizabeth Wilde | Robert Stanford Tuck