This is Your Life

Based on the American TV show of the same name (which first began in 1948 as a radio show), This Is Your Life started honouring and embarrassing famous New Zealanders in 1984. Past recipients of the Big Red Book have included Sir Howard Morrison, Davina Whitehouse, John Walker and many others. Bob Parker was the original presenter of the show (later hosts were Paul Holmes and Paul Henry). Before lives and careers are celebrated there's a moment of mild excruciation, as viewers wait for the presenter to surprise the soon-to-be-anointed subject with the famous words: "This is your life''.