Sir Peter USTINOV CBE (1921-2004)

Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life

programme details...

  • Edition No: 901
  • Subject No: second timer
  • Broadcast date: Wed 28 Dec 1994
  • Broadcast time: 7.00-7.45pm
  • Recorded: Fri 16 Sep 1994
  • Venue: unknown
  • Series: 35
  • Edition: 9
  • Code name: Solo

on the guest list...

  • Helene - wife
  • Tamara - daughter
  • Andrea - daughter
  • Michael Owen
  • Pavla - daughter
  • Igor - son
  • Clementine - daughter-in-law
  • Clara - granddaughter
  • Jean Simmons
  • Michael Anderson
  • Peter Jones
  • Paul Rogers
  • Michael York
  • Denis Quilley
  • Edward Heath
  • Leon Davico
  • Terry Waite
  • Filmed tributes:
  • Mikhail Gorbachev
  • Petula Clark
  • Angela Lansbury
  • Robert Mitchum
  • Terence Stamp
  • Jackie Stewart
  • Georg Solti
  • King Hussain of Jordan

production team...

  • Researcher: Elizabeth Ross
  • Writer: Roy Bottomley
  • Director: Brian Klein
  • Associate Producer: John Graham
  • Executive Producer: Peter Estall
  • Producer: Malcolm Morris
  • names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life
related pages...

Peter Ustinov

first tribute


The Glamorous Life

Hollywood in the spotlight


Life Second Time Around

surprised again!


Extended Life

the special editions


The Big Red Book

the programme's icon


The Night We Shocked Petula

TV Times photo feature on Petula Clark's second This Is Your Life surprise


Ratings slump sounds death knell for This Is Your Life

Press speculation on the future of This Is Your Life


Petula Clark


Denis Quilley


Georg Solti


Jackie Stewart

Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life

Screenshots of Peter Ustinov This Is Your Life

Malcolm Morris biography

Producer Malcolm Morris recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is My Life...


Should we do Sir Peter Ustinov? was the debate at the programme meeting. We had done his life but that had been back in 1977, over seventeen years ago, another lifetime ago, in fact. But where was he? That was to be the biggest problem, according to his wife and family. When he was not working he took off and nobody was really quite sure where.


We fixed a date for when he was next due in London for a tour, but a few days before our programme date he vanished from home, saying that he would see them all in a few days' time. I knew that he was a highly regarded member of UNICEF so we contacted a few of his friends there. Paris... he's in Paris, we were told. OK, we'll go to Paris, I thought.


All the arrangements were made. Michael, myself, Johnny and a camera team were set to find him in Paris when we heard the news that he'd left Paris and was on his way back to Geneva, but not to stay.


'Now hold on,' I said, 'we cannot do a programme on this basis. We'll have to lock him into an important appointment to be sure of his location.' I didn't mind where it was just so long as we knew he'd be there when we turned up. Amazingly, the United Nations came to our aid, telling us they would set up a special press lunch for UNICEF at their headquarters in Geneva and Peter, as guest of honour, would be there without fail. Our biggest problem would be getting into the UN building because of their massive security.


We were all photographed and security screened but we still couldn't tell security of our true intentions, so we faked a documentary on the spot and began filming all over their site until we got near to the lunch and then one of Peter's friends got us into the dining room.


Peter was making a speech at the end of which Michael and camera crew gatecrashed the room and went up to Peter in front of the world press. Michael flashed the book, which amazed Peter and baffled a few reporters from China.


'What, right now?' Peter looked at Michael who nodded.


Then we were off to Geneva airport and in London on time. One hour later at seven o'clock Peter Ustinov and Michael were doing This Is Your Life.

Series 35 subjects

Andrew Lloyd Webber | Leslie Crowther | Mike Reid | Martin Bell | Marti Caine | David Wallace | Danny Baker | Stephanie Cole
Peter Ustinov | Lesley Joseph | Arthur C Clarke | Barry Cryer | Gretchen Franklin | Edward Woodward | Ned Sherrin | Spike Milligan
Howard Keel | Raymond Gainer | June Whitfield | Debbie Reynolds | Bill Cotton | Jimmy Hill | George Baker | James Herbert
Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray | Ivor Broom | Kriss Akabusi | Helen Shapiro