The classic TV show This Is Your Life is possibly set for a revival, nearly two decades after its last regular episode aired.
The show, which first aired in 1955, has historically been presented by male hosts. However, discussions are underway to bring back the format with someone like Susanna Reid, Kate Garraway, or Fiona Bruce at the helm. The show’s formula involves surprising a celebrity with a big red book and recounting their life story in a studio filled with their friends, family, and peers, creating a moving and engaging experience.
The UK version of This Is Your Life was based on the American show of the same name, which was created and hosted by Ralph Edwards. The British version was launched in 1955 on the BBC and was initially hosted by Ralph Edwards, with Eamonn Andrews as the first “victim”. The show became an instant hit, attracting audiences of between 8.75 and 10.5 million viewers in 1958. It ran on the BBC until 1964, when Eamonn Andrews left to start his own chat show and World of Sport for ABC.
The show returned in 1969 on ITV, with Eamonn Andrews once again at the helm. This time, the show was produced by Thames Television. The surprise element was a crucial part of the show, and if the guest heard about the project beforehand, it would be cancelled. To maintain the element of surprise, Eamonn Andrews would often don disguises to catch his guests off guard.
Over the years, This Is Your Life has featured an incredible range of celebrities, from actor Dudley Moore to football icon Matt Busby but it would be quicker to list who wasn’t featured on it. Forty-two celebrities have been featured on the show twice, including Honor Blackman, Bob Monkhouse, and Eamonn Andrews himself.
The return of the show is being carefully planned, with discussions about potential hosts and networks currently ongoing. Richard Osman shared on his podcast, The Rest Is Entertainment, that a well-known TV presenter had been approached about the revival.
Airing on both BBC and ITV, the original version of the show was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964 and then from 1969 until his death in 1987. Michael Aspel then took over as host until the show ended in 2003. A special episode in 2007, hosted by Trevor McDonald and featuring Simon Cowell, marked the show’s last appearance.
It’s not the first time that rumours of a revival have been mooted – back in 2018 there was serious talk about bringing the show back with Jonathan Ross as host. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the show will return, the format still works and it has recently undergone an Australian revival.
