Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
The music charts: pop, rock and roll, disco, funk, new romantic, punk, prog-rock, easy listening, rhythm and blues, ska and soul – This Is Your Life featured them all, although understandably the tributes came mainly in the later series of the programme's run.
So, from the show's early black and white days with Britain's first 'rock and roll star', to the very last show Michael Aspel recorded with possibly Britain's best known pop music mogul, here's a look back at those artists and producers who had a 'hit' of a different kind - with the Big Red Book*...
Tommy STEELE 27 October 1958 Eamonn surprised the singer, who was branded 'Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star', at the BBC Television Theatre. |
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18 March 1970 The television and record producer - responsible for the pioneering music shows Six-Five Special and Oh Boy! - was surprised by Eamonn at the Olympic Sound Studios in Barnes, London. Among those paying tribute to Jack are British pop stars Joe Brown, Marty Wilde and Cliff Richard, while American singer Andy Williams contributes via telephone. |
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Joe BROWN 23 December 1970 The singer and musician - who formed his first band, a skiffle group called The Spacemen, in 1956 - was surprised by Eamonn while rehearsing for the pantomime Dick Whittington at Golder's Green's Odeon Theatre in London. |
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Peter NOONE 31 March 1971 The singer and actor - best known as the lead singer of the successful 1960s pop group Herman's Hermits - was surprised by Eamonn during the programme's second series produced by Thames Television. |
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Adam FAITH 28 April 1971 The actor and former teen idol, who was one of the most charted acts of the 1960s, was surprised by Eamonn while filming on location in London for the ITV series Budgie. |
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Lulu 10 May 1972 The Scottish singer and actress was surprised by Eamonn as she entered a darkened Studio 5 in Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. |
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George MARTIN 30 January 1980 The legendary record producer and musician - forever associated with The Beatles - was surprised by Eamonn outside the New London Theatre. |
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Mickie MOST 31 December 1981 The highly successful record producer - responsible at the time for such recording artists as Donovan and Suzi Quatro - was surprised by Eamonn at BBC Broadcasting House. In an extended edition Mickie was joined by his colleagues from the television talent show New Faces, including Marti Caine, while other tributes came from Lulu, Little Richard and Peter Cook. |
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Marty WILDE 15 December 1982 Eamonn surprised the singer songwriter outside the Royalty Theatre, after pursuing Marty in a fast car driven by his pop star daughter, Kim. |
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Bob GELDOF 16 January 1985 Eamonn surprised the lead singer of The Boomtown Rats at the Royalty Theatre. Bob co-founded the charity group Band Aid with Midge Ure, and together they organised the concert Live Aid to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. |
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Alvin STARDUST 13 March 1985 The singer and actor was signing autographs for fans outside Thames Television's Euston Road Studios when Eamonn surprised him. |
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Richard BRANSON 20 November 1985 Richard - who had launched his own record label in 1972 - was surprised when Eamonn, dressed as a pirate, invaded his houseboat on London's Regent Canal. Among those greeting the entrepreneur are Phil Collins, Suggs and multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield - whose debut album Tubular Bells was the first release for Richard's Virgin Records. |
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Gerry MARSDEN 18 December 1985 Gerry and the Pacemakers were contemporaries of The Beatles, with hits such as Ferry Cross the Mersey and You'll Never Walk Alone. |
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CHAS n DAVE 31 December 1985 The pop rock duo - known for their 'rockney' pub singalongs such as Rabbit and Ain't No Pleasing You - were surprised by Eamonn - disguised in a ginger beard - while performing a gig in a London pub. |
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Phil COLLINS 26 October 1988 For his first This Is Your Life edition as host, Michael disguised himself as a tramp in order to surprise the musician and singer in the middle of London's Covent Garden. |
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The BEE GEES 20 February 1991 Brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb - remembered as the foremost act of the late 1970s disco era - were surprised by Michael while being interviewed by disc jockey Steve Wright on his Radio 1 programme at BBC Broadcasting House. |
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Helen SHAPIRO 17 May 1995 The singer - who soared to international fame at the age of 14 - was surprised by Michael outside Thames Television's Teddington Studios. Originally a singer of pop songs, Helen has admitted her first love is jazz. Musicians Humphrey Lyttelton and George Melly, and pop singer Cliff Richard pay tribute, and the show ends with Helen singing out over the credits. |
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Toyah WILLCOX 4 October 1996 Toyah - the actress, singer and star of the 1970s punk rock and new wave music scene who had hits such as It's a Mystery and I Want to Be Free - was surprised by Michael while filming on location at an office block on London's Albert Embankment. |
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Noddy HOLDER 20 December 1996 The musician and actor - best known as the frontman of rock band Slade - was surprised by Michael on the actual set of This Is Your Life at the BBC studios in Manchester. |
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Justin HAYWARD 10 March 1997 The musician and singer-songwriter with the rock band The Moody Blues was surprised by Michael during the press launch of his new album at the Petersham Hotel in Richmond. |
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Cheryl BAKER 17 November 1997 Michael caught up with the television presenter - and former singer with the Eurovision-winning pop group Bucks Fizz - on board the Flamant Rose in London's St Katharine's Dock. |
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Errol BROWN 24 November 1997 Michael surprised the lead singer of pop group Hot Chocolate during a personal appearance at the HMV store on London's Oxford Street – on his birthday! |
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Rick WAKEMAN 30 November 1998 The keyboardist, composer and songwriter – formerly with the progressive rock band Yes – was surprised by Michael at the BBC Television Centre whilst appearing as a guest on the light entertainment show The Generation Game. |
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Suzi QUATRO 22 February 1999 Suzi - the first female bass player to become a major rock star - was surprised by Michael at the end of a concert at the London Palladium. |
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Martin KEMP 13 November 1999 The actor and former member of the 1980s New Romantic pop group Spandau Ballet, was surprised by Michael in the Queen Vic on the set of the BBC television soap opera, Eastenders, and was treated to an extra edition which was broadcast during a prime slot on a Saturday evening. Martin's guests include singers Bob Geldof and George Michael. |
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SUGGS 17 April 2000 The front man for those nutty boys Madness was surprised by Michael during a recording of the BBC's quiz show, A Question of Pop. |
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Midge URE 28 March 2001 Midge - the former lead singer of Ultravox who with Bob Geldof co-wrote and produced the charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? - was surprised by Michael during a radio show at BBC Broadcasting House. |
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Paul JONES 11 April 2001 The singer, actor and broadcaster - perhaps best remembered for his involvement with the successful 1960s pop group Manfred Mann - was surprised by Michael during his live radio show at BBC Broadcasting House. |
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Paul YOUNG 5 December 2001 Michael surprised the singer - known for his smooth yet soulful voice - at the end of a 'Here And Now' concert at Wembley Arena. |
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Mike RUTHERFORD 23 January 2003 Michael surprised the singer and guitarist outside Thames Television's Teddington Studios, with the help of his Genesis band member - and former This Is Your Life subject - Phil Collins. Among those paying tribute to Mike - who formed his first band in 1965 - are musician Peter Gabriel, racing driver Damon Hill, broadcaster Chris Tarrant and rugby player Will Carling. |
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Simon COWELL 12 June 2003 Michael travelled to the recording studios of record producer and fellow Pop Idol judge Pete Waterman, who then helped spring the surprise on the music executive. |
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* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details