Coronation Street on This Is Your Life (Part Two)

Part Two featuring the cast of Coronation Street, who, over the years, have been featured on 'This Is Your Life'

William Roache (Ken Barlow)

16th October 1985

Eamonn dressed as an Arab sheik, and was accompanied by a camel, to surprise William at a cast photo shoot to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the soap. Guests on the show included Norman Wisdom, Arthur Marshall and Mike Yarwood.

Bill Waddington (Percy Sugden)

15th October 1986

Eamonn surprised the former variety comedian at Euston Station, with long-time friend Joe Loss and his Orchestra. Bill’s guests included a fellow comedian who worked with him at Manchester’s Hulme Hippodrome in the fifties - Jill Summers - the Street’s future Phyllis Pearce.

Roy Barroclough (Alec Gilroy)

21st October 1987

Roy was summoned back from holiday so Eamonn, disguised as an AA patrolman, could surprise him from under the bonnet of Julie Goodyear’s supposedly broken down Rolls Royce. On hearing ‘This Is Your Life’ Roy, who was initially furious at cutting short his holiday retorted: “Oh no it bloody isn’t”

Elizabeth Dawn (Vera Duckworth)

10th January 1990

Michael Aspel’s first visit to Coronation Street was to surprise Liz Dawn in the Rovers Return. Among those paying tributes were Bernard Manning and Larry Grayson.

Thelma Barlow (Mavis Riley)

13th November 1991

Michael interrupted the filming of a scene in The Kabin to surprise Thelma - “How lovely to see you!” Thelma’s show included a reunion with two former Coronation Street actresses Madge Hindle and Anne Reid.

Coronation Street on This Is Your Life (Part One)

Over the years the cast of Coronation Street both past & present have been honoured with the Big Red Book on TV's This Is Your Life. Take a look back with me at some of the Corrie greats to have made the Big Red Book.

Patricia Phoenix: 15th November 1972

Patricia Phoenix was the very first resident to become a subject of This Is Your Life - surprised on the set of the soap, outside number 11 Coronation Street. Eamonn swapped places with her screen (and later real-life) husband Alan Browning while recording a scene, which also included Peter Adamson.

Jack Howarth: 20th November 1974

Jack Howarth was a reluctant subject, was surprised in the Rovers Return by Eamonn - “Yes, well I’m going home!” Jack’s guests included Thora Hird, Arthur Lowe and Johnnie Hamp.

Betty Driver: 11th February 1976

Betty was surprised at Euston Station by Eamonn disguised as a newspaper seller - “I didn’t recognise you with that awful hat on!” Guests on Betty’s show included Beryl Reid and Tony Britton.

Julie Goodyear: 22nd October 1980

Julie was also surprised at Euston Station by Eamonn, this time dressed as a waiter - “Is it going to be a series?” Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), too ill to travel to London for the show, sent Julie a telephone message.

Peter Adamson: 23rd December 1981

Peter was surprised in London’s Leicester Square by Eamonn disguised as Santa Claus - “You frightened the hell out of me!” Eamonn was assisted by Norman Vaughan, Windsor Davies and Melvyn Hayes, who Peter was about to appear with in pantomime.

Johnny Briggs: 26th January 1983

Eamonn enlisted the help of Pat Phoenix to surprise Johnny in the Punch & Judy pub in London’s Covent Garden. Johnny’s show included recorded tributes from Samantha Eggar and Dirk Bogarde.