“This Is Your Life” is set to return to screens later this year.
The revived show will be hosted by Melissa Doyle on the Seven Network’s Channel 7 and its broadcast video on demand (BVOD) platform 7Plus.
The Seven Network said “This Is Your Life” celebrates one iconic Australian at a time, offering revealing insights, emotional reunions and never-before-seen footage from their closest colleagues, friends and family. The show promised to also include international names and stellar surprise performers.
The show first went to air in 1975 on Channel 7. At the time, it was hosted by Mike Willesee, followed by Digby Wolfe and then Roger Climpson. It was off air from 1980 to 1995, and was then revived by Channel 9 with Mike Munro at the helm until 2005. He and the show returned again in 2008, while Eddie McGuire fronted four episodes in 2011.
The Seven Network’s Angus Ross, chief content officer for entertainment programming, praised both the program and its new host.
“‘This Is Your Life’ was an iconic and incredibly successful show for many years,” he said. “We can’t wait to bring the format into 2022 and welcome Mel Doyle back to Seven as its host.
“Mel is one of the best in the business. Intelligent, warm and engaging, she is the perfect person to present “This Is Your Life” and to celebrate the careers and achievements of some extraordinary Australians.”
Doyle first joined the Seven Network in 1995. In 1999, she was one of “Sunrise’s” original hosts before the breakfast show was axed. It was revived in 2000 and she rejoined the fold in 2002.
She finished up with “Sunrise” in 2013 and subsequently hosted “Seven Afternoon News” and “Sunday Night” with the network.
In 2020, after 25 years with the network, she departed.
She said she is honoured to return and continue the iconic legacy of “This Is Your Life”.
“I can’t wait to present the Big Red Book to some of our most-loved Australians and together celebrate their remarkable lives and the people and moments which mean so much to them – and to all of us,” she said.
The “This Is Your Life” format is owned by TIYL 2010, LLC, with Ralph Edwards Productions acting as its authorised representative. It is distributed by All3Media International.
Locally, it will be made for Seven by ITV Studios Australia. ITV negotiated the deal with All3Media International after its acquisition of the DRG/Net library.
