This is your life, our Roy

OLDHAM-born Roy Bottomley, who wrote and created some of Britain’s most successful television shows, has died aged 78.

“This Is Your Life”, “Nearest and Dearest” and a TV adapation of John Braine’s novel “Man at the Top” were among his many television credits.

Mr Bottomley, married to former Oldham Carnival Queen and highly-rated amateur actress Patti Bottomley, died in hospital near his home in Richmond, Surrey on Monday, after a long illness.

Mr Bottomley, the only son of local landlord Bert Bottomley and his wife Annie, was brought up in the Ordnance Arms pub in Glodwick and began his journalistic career at the Chronicle. With his then business partner Tom Brennand he later formed Oldham Press Agency.

His break into television came as a news reporter, then producer, of the curret affairs programme “ABC At Large” in Manchester.

In 1964, Mr Bottomley was invited to London by Eamonn Andrews to work as programme editor/ writer on “The Eamonn Andrews Show”.

When ITV decided to revive the former BBC programme “This Is Your Life” in 1969 Mr Bottomley was appointed programme consultant/writer and remained with the programme until his retirement 26 years later.

He also wrote storylines and scripts for “Emmerdale” and “United” — a football soap in the late 1970s.

Roy leaves Patti, his son Steve, a TV sports presenter formerly with Sky and MUTV, daughter Sally who lives and works in America, and another son Tom, a magazine journalist.

Jack Crawshaw, former Chronicle reporter and producer of “This Is Your Life”, said: “Roy was always a driving force behind the programme.

“He was a dear friend and colleague, a great professional, whose never ending optimism and enthusiasm was inspirational.”