This Is Your Life
A BBC One Original
This Is Your Life reimagines biography as a live, sweeping reveal. A host arrives unannounced to surprise a guest and then guides the audience through the arc of their life, aided by the famous big red book that lists milestones, tributes and connections. The tone blends warmth, awe and... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: January 14, 2026
About This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life reimagines biography as a live, sweeping reveal. A host arrives unannounced to surprise a guest and then guides the audience through the arc of their life, aided by the famous big red book that lists milestones, tributes and connections. The tone blends warmth, awe and nostalgia, letting friends, family and colleagues add memory after memory as the guest watches a developing portrait of their past unfold. The show began in Britain in 1955 with Eamonn Andrews, later passing to Michael Aspel from 1987 to 2003, and returning for a one-off revival in 2007 hosted by Trevor McDonald. The format lived in the moment, letting audiences participate in a shared memory.
Based on the 1952 American format, This Is Your Life was adapted for British television. It launched in 1955 with Eamonn Andrews, later ran with Michael Aspel from 1987 to 2003, and had a 2007 one-off hosted by Trevor McDonald.
The big red book and the surprise reveal became a defining trope in British TV biography. The format shaped how audiences think about fame and memory, influencing later celebration shows and leaving an enduring impression of intimate public storytelling. That simple mechanism became a blueprint for respectful biography across generations.
Critical responses have varied but the show is widely praised for its emotional honesty and its meditation on memory, fame, and the public nature of private lives. It balances tribute with revelation, inviting viewers to reconsider what a life in the spotlight really means for modern audiences today and tomorrow.
Awards: This show has not been a recipient in awards, but its enduring presence speaks to its lasting influence on television biography rather than prize recognitions. Its impact is felt in how on screen life stories are framed and remembered. Its absence from awards does not diminish its legacy. Recognized.
Details
- Release Date
- July 29, 1955
- Episode Length
- 30m
- User Ratings
- 8 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 43
- Episodes
- 1094
- Network
- BBC One, ITV1
- Status
- Canceled
- Genres
- Documentary
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Studio
- Thames Television
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Cast
Michael Aspel
Self - Host
Seasons (43 seasons, 1094 episodes)
Season 1
15 episodes - 1955
Season 2
19 episodes - 1956
Season 3
26 episodes - 1957
Season 4
31 episodes - 1958
Season 5
37 episodes - 1959
Season 6
28 episodes - 1960
Season 7
32 episodes - 1961
Season 8
31 episodes - 1962
Season 9
32 episodes - 1963
Season 10
18 episodes - 1964
Season 11
6 episodes - 1969
Season 12
26 episodes - 1970
Season 13
27 episodes - 1971
Season 14
26 episodes - 1972
Season 15
24 episodes - 1973
Season 16
29 episodes - 1974
Season 17
27 episodes - 1975
Season 18
28 episodes - 1976
Season 19
22 episodes - 1977
Season 20
31 episodes - 1978
Season 21
22 episodes - 1979
Season 22
32 episodes - 1980
Season 23
27 episodes - 1981
Season 24
24 episodes - 1982
Season 25
27 episodes - 1983
Season 26
23 episodes - 1984
Season 27
30 episodes - 1985
Season 28
25 episodes - 1986
Season 29
18 episodes - 1987
Season 30
14 episodes - 1988
Season 31
19 episodes - 1989
Season 32
27 episodes - 1990
Season 33
27 episodes - 1991
Season 34
29 episodes - 1992
Season 35
16 episodes - 1993
Season 36
35 episodes - 1994
Season 37
36 episodes - 1995
Season 38
22 episodes - 1996
Season 39
30 episodes - 1997
Season 40
25 episodes - 1998
Season 41
19 episodes - 1999
Season 42
24 episodes - 2000
Season 43
28 episodes - 2001
