That's Life! (television)
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That's Life! was an enormously successful BBC television series, which began in 1973 and ran until 1994. Esther Rantzen remained the primary presenter throughout the entire run, with various changes of co-presenters. The magazine style show was generally recorded about an hour prior to transmission on Saturday and, later, Sunday nights.
The ostensible purpose of the programme was consumer protection, particularly safety issues. The importance of wearing seat belts, for example, was illustrated before attitudes supporting their use became widespread. Britain's telephone helpline for children, Childline, was developed by Rantzen following items on the programme. Awareness for the need for child organ transplants was increased through the 1984 death of Ben Hardwicke, a toddler who's liver disease was followed by the show. In tribute, Marti Webb released a version of Michael Jackson's 'Ben'.
Less serious features included the 'Jobsworth,' exposing companies and authorities who had implemented obscure and regulations policies causing more grievances than the original 'offence.' The show was also infamous for showcasing abnormally shaped vegetables, "odd odes", performing pets, and street interviews with members of the public. There were also musical interludes from performers such as Victoria Wood and Doc Cox.
Presenters often left the confines of the studio for various stunts; Esther was arrested during one vox pop for apparently obstructing the pavement. The incident was broadcast in its entirety, along with Esther being driven away in a police van and the crowd's protest against her arrest.
The co-presenters added extra personality to the show. They would dramatise cases by each reading the dialogue of a 'character.' This resulted in hilarity during less-serious cases when a presenter, notably Adrian Mills, was forced to attempt foreign accents.
A cartoon strip, drawn by Rod Jordon, featuring items from that edition accompanied the closing credits.
The very last edition was named That's Life All Over, and was predominantly a highlight show.
According to the Guinness Television Encyclopedia, the BBC conceived the programme as a replacement for the similar Braden's Week, hosted by Bernard Braden between 1968 and 1972. Rantzen was a reporter on this show, while her husband, Desmond Wilcox, was an editor. Braden was dismissed when he appeared in a commercial on ITV, leading to the introduction of That's Life! a year later.
Co-Presenters
- Maev Alexander
- Grant Baynham
- Bill Buckly
- Gavin Campbell
- Doc Cox
- Kevin Devine
- Simon Fanshawe
- Cyril Fletcher
- John Gould
- Michael Groth
- Paul Heiney
- George Layton
- Howard Leader
- Adrian Mills
- Joanna Munro
- Kieran Prendiville
- Chris Serle
- Scott Sherrin
- Mollie Sugden
- Bob Wellings
- Victoria Wood
- Glyn Worsnip
References
Evans, Jeff (1995) The Guinness Television Encyclopedia. ISBN 0851127444