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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Bonnie Langford, actress, singer and dancer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during the curtain call of the musical Peter Pan at London's Aldwych Theatre.

Bonnie grew up in Surrey and trained at the Arts Educational School and the Italia Conte Academy stage school. After becoming the youngest winner in the history of the ITV talent show Opportunity Knocks at the age of six, she appeared as Baby June in a revival of the musical Gypsy in London's West End and on Broadway.

She appeared in the 1976 film Bugsy Malone and on television played Violet Elizabeth Bott in the children's series Just William. On stage, she starred in the musicals Cats, The Pirate of Penzance and 42nd Street, and at the age of only 21, she was described as 'the youngest veteran in the business'.

"They said royalty was in - but I didn't know it was you!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 693
• Subject No: 688
• Broadcast date: Wed 29 Jan 1986
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Thu 16 Jan 1986
• Venue: Royalty Theatre
• Series: 26
• Edition: 15
• Code name: Good

on the guest list...

• Joss Ackland
• cast members of Peter Pan
• Babette - mother
• Don - father
• Cherida - sister
• Sandy - brother-in-law
• Patrina - sister
• Daryl - brother-in-law
• Pam - aunt
• Graham - uncle
• Helen - cousin
• Pat Stanford
• Dick Stanford
• Christopher Biggins
• Sister Basil
• Lena Zavaroni
• Adrian Dannatt
• Paul Nicholas
• Daniella - niece
• Dominik - niece
• Scarlett - niece
• Summer - niece
• June Havoc
Filmed tributes:
• Michael Praed
• Finola Hughes
• Hughie Green
• Wayne Sleep

related appearances...

• Wayne Sleep - Oct 1981
• Brian Blessed - Apr 1984
• Gillian Lynne - Feb 1989
• Sarah Brightman - Nov 1989
• Billy Marsh - Mar 1990
• Ken Dodd - May 1990
• Christopher Biggins - Jan 1999
• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• Lisa Maxwell - Apr 2003
• Gyles Brandreth - Aug 2003

production team...

• Researchers: Miriam O'Callaghan, Tom Wettengel
• Writer: Roy Bottomley
• Directors: Terry Yarwood, Michael D Kent
• Associate Producer: Brian Klein
• Producer: Malcolm Morris

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

Life is a Cabaret

a musical theatre chorus line

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Christopher Biggins

Hughie Green

Paul Nicholas

Wayne Sleep

Interviews

Bonnie Langford recalls her experience of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in January 2024

Screenshots of Bonnie Langford This Is Your Life