ITV will screen a rarely seen episode of the biographical series This Is Your Life, celebrating the life and work of the iconic Oldham writer, comedian, actor and director Eric Sykes, to celebrate the centenary of his birth next month.
The special episode, which originally aired on Christmas Day, 1979, will stream on ITVX from April 30, just a few days ahead of what would have been Eric Sykes’ 100 birthday on May 4. The special will also air on ITV3 on the same date.
Eric Sykes famously recalled his appearance on the episode in his autobiography; ‘If I Don’t Write It, Nobody Else Will…’ where he described being lured to the New London Theatre under the guise of attending a press interview, before being greeted by Eamonn Andrews, holding a large red book.
The 45 minute long episode featured tributes not only from Eric’s family, but from a host of showbiz greats including Tommy Cooper, Frankie Howerd, Max Bygraves, Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Sean Connery amongst others.
ITVX has also made classic British comedy The Plank available. The masterpiece of visual comedy was written, directed by and starred Sykes, alongside contemporaries Tommy Cooper, Jimmy Edwards and Roy Castle.
