Big Daddy - This Is Your Life - British Wrestling - World Of Sport

I have removed the three part version I uploaded a few years ago & have replaced it with the full version. Enjoy.

[@lellyt2372]

I LOVED Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy ❤️ Saturday's were amazing because of these men !

[@commandingjudgedredd1841]

"Easy! Easy!"

[@damianjones7554]

Easy! Easy! Easy!

[@josegabrielsanchez8683]

These folks seemed so nice and warm, a far stretch from what we're getting in television nowadays (and in society at large)

[@RabidGerry]

Oh for sure, no one give a dam about one another any more, no manners, no consideration for others. Society is really taken a turn for the worse.

[@keithy507]

Back when people were themselves! Now everyone is trying to be somebody they’re not, just to fit in!

[@fraser5754]

@@keithy507 I think you're forgetting a wee something! Wrestlers are always being something they're not lol

[@user-gv3bt5mi3o]

Cause men were men in them Days had respect and manners

[@stewroo]

​@@user-gv3bt5mi3o "Boohoo I'm frightened of new perspectives and societal development" Give it a rest snowflake. Big Daddy would've said as much.

[@anythingoldmechanical]

Why big daddy was deemed as a nice man, absolutely baffles me. Big Daddy was often arrogant and rude off stage. I know that as I were a ring builder, and seen his behaviour towards people he never even knew- who only wanted to meet him and shake his hand, before the wrestling was opened to the public. Unbelievably one of the nicest of all Wrestlers was Martin Ruane (Giant Haystacks) A proper God fearing true Gentleman out of the ring. A VERY likeable man.

[@ianbentley7276]

well we can only go on what we see here, but i hear what you say.

[@DJ-Brownie-UK]

MATE I CAN SEE IT IN HIS EYES AND WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYONE NOTICES HIS DISCOMFORT ON MEETING SOME OF THE GUESTS BROUGHT IN , LIKE ITS SOME IN JOKE THAT TIYL WAS ACTUALLY BRINGING VICTIMS IN TO HUMILIATE

[@vaseofflowers4619]

He sounds a bit of a tool if that's true.

[@angiedawnmoody3519]

​@@vaseofflowers4619Sadly he was!! When he wrestled at Southampton Pier or our Guildhall he was often seen pushing children to one side and even swearing at them to leave him alone....My late Mother saw this happen many a time and she said Giant Haystacks was a gentleman that lifted children up,let them take photos with him etc...BD acted nice for the cameras most of the time. So clearly not a very nice man

[@TS-1267]

... " SHIRLEY Not..."

[@jonser20cent68]

What a lovely man! Loved the wrestling growing up in the 1970's

[@england8754]

I was at school when all this was on, and I used to watch the wrestlering every Saturday afternoon

[@patricaoreilly2143]

I use to watch every Saturday afternoon with my Dad & woman sitting on the side of the ring. Waiting to bash any man who fell out of the ring with their hand bags. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sablebasilisk7998]

@@patricaoreilly2143 I was about 9 or 10 when my mum introduced me to Kent Walton etc. There was Mighty John Quinn, Rollerball Mark Rocco, Mick MacManus and Jim Brakes plus of course Kendo Nagasaki unmasking !!!!

[@patricaoreilly2143]

@@sablebasilisk7998 I remember the old ladies with their bags ready to whack Mick if he fell our of the ring. They were really serious about it. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@phillawrence6413]

Same man

[@rocker-barrel4786]

Me too

[@bullyinspace]

This show seems like a millions years ago now

[@davieleerio]

A gentleman and a legend sadly missed i loved big daddy 🙏❤🌹

[@user-tj6gd4hr8l]

R also,!

[@jasontuck-smith3896]

A huge man but his heart was even bigger.

[@nichhodge8503]

Physically and well as metaphorically. Big Daddy may have been crap in the ring and the total opposite to Dynamite Kid, Mark ‘Rollerball’ Rocco and Marty Jones who were 3 of the best wrestlers ever in the ring but they never got over with the crowd like Big Daddy

[@BeasleyStreet]

It cannot be underestimated how big this all was in 70's My father took me a couple of times to Kings Hall,Belle Vue Manchester, and the only memory was Big Pat Roach,The myth around Kendo Nagasaki was huge, the fact that all those names were there is huge respect....as it happens the big man lived not far away from me,use to drive a Granada with his seat in the back...Giant Haystacks of course.

[@heathermuir2842]

And early sixties I saw them all even the tag matches especially the royal brothers awesome xx Heather

[@bernardcromarty485]

Also good to see my mate 'Kendo Nagasaki' (Peter Thornley), who will be 81 this year.

[@neilbeeston268]

saw him wrestle in my town, spent a hour with the kids wanting pics afterwoods.. great guy

[@jacksonirving4594]

This is like a breath of fresh air ..thanks for posting ..

[@cols-muscle-power]

I agree

[@markb7692]

The good old days...... all gone

[@Shrooms-up6sv]

Sake mark, cheer up man.

[@traceypace92]

This was pure gold felt so happy to see it .loved this is your life ,and I love BIG DADDY

[@phillawrence6413]

Things like this make me wish I could go back to when I was young.

[@andymatthews7617]

Brings tears to your eyes.

[@ENGLISHCHIEF1]

We didn't know it but they were the best times of our lives.....

[@andymatthews7617]

@@ENGLISHCHIEF1 absolutely, I want to ho back in time, NOW

[@SA77888]

@@ENGLISHCHIEF1 Yep, pitty we didnt realize it at the time.

[@haggis087]

Wow....When I worked as a Porter in Royal Crescent Hotel, Brighton way back in late 70's I served BD, his wife and daughter every night when they returned after a show. She had a pot of tea and he always had an ice cold bottle of milk. Lovely polite family. I also remember him going to the beach for a swim every early morning

[@robsimons1609]

wrestling on a saturday was great on tv back in the day

[@karenhill3161]

I loved it, my dad and I watched every Saturday and would often go and see them live. Happy days

[@carolynmurtaza1180]

I never missed a Saturday watching the wrestling. I remember Big daddy tag teamed with a new wrestler called Davey Boy Smith who then became known as the British Bulldog in America.

[@Truthall]

my gran who was a very strict christian woman, loved Big Daddy and the way she used to get upset at those baddies he fought...like Giant Haystacks...she would use expletives like a bissum...and that was saying something for her lol...he was brilliant..he inspired a lot of positivity in people no matter what age you were..a golden age for sure...

[@Betsy387]

Bloody miss this legand gone but never forgotten rip Big daddy

[@garethbramley1]

Used to love all this. Haystacks was also a gentle giant outside the ring . Daddy was at lot larger than this (as was Haystacks) when Wrestling ended here in the early - mid 80s. Haystacks was only 33 here! I guess most of these people have passed away now.

[@liverpix]

Kendo Nagasaki is still around.

[@Wheelstar72]

He was my favourite wrestler growing up

[@jacksonirving4594]

He was everybody's favourite ..

[@chrisfallon9678]

Never seen this before until now .I reckon it was one of the best ever 👌👌

[@danielsale3805]

I was lucky enough to see him wrestle as a young man. He was brilliant. He deserved every thing he achieved.

[@jharbin4409]

You must have been smoking crack

[@davidfelix2594]

Wrestling is all fake

[@ernieburke3695]

Have just read Kendo's biography, it is very detailed and intelligent, if you are interested in the 70's scene I recommend it.

[@AquaFonic]

Gosh and to think they all gone now 🥺🥺 wow what an amazing show

[@joe-vl3nd]

Good happy days Loved BD My dad's favorite

[@heathermuir2842]

Oooh thank you so much for taking me back to the days of Madley street baths in hull xxxxx 😘 Heather

[@Toracube]

He comes across as a really nice humble bloke who just cared about entertaining the crowds. Shame he is not in the hall of fame because if there is one name to pick as a British wrestler everyone remembers him. He sold out venues.

[@leedsboy64]

Thank you for this post I smiled my way through the whole thing

[@staurtsharman2299]

... Yeah, and cried a little, wishing the world, that warm, comfortable, unspoilt memories of being a child watching the wrestling every Saturday afternoon with my parents, and enjoying every second of it, would never end...

[@ScreamqueenarmyBlogspot666]

Now THESE were REAL Wrestlers!

[@nebularain3338]

None of them were "real" wrestlers. They were showmen, there solely for entertainment, and they delivered.

[@tonytoonstours]

@@nebularain3338 really, I would check the backgrounds of Marty Jones, Pete Roberts, Tony St Clair, Steve Grey, Mick McManus ect.

[@da90sReAlvloc]

​@@nebularain3338 yeah true didn't Bret Hart British bulldog and dynamite kid wrestle with these guys. Also William regal Bunch of actors non of them are wrestlers

[@stepheng8779]

​@@tonytoonstoursI would learn to spell etc

[@tonytoonstours]

@@stepheng8779 etcetera lol

[@davidhenrywall8619]

Brilliant Saturday on world of sport wrestling.

[@nickpage7684]

My 2 favourite wrestlers Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks I saw BD The week Lord Mountbatten was taken from us

[@charleyfarley5065]

Wow.

[@kevob]

Shook his hand as a 9yr old in Blackpool after a match, so excited to meet him.

[@annie482000]

Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks - loved watching both of them. May they both RIP.

[@EvilestGem]

Blown away. So easy to forget how good TV was in terms of human value and I hate to say it but nowadays TV really is just trash.

[@bessofhardwick9311]

One of my favourite TIYL episodes. Thanks for uploading.

[@stevewaddy139]

Fantastic memories brought up watching 70s wrestling, brilliant to see the stars of the time.

[@jonhenning]

Yorkshire is a tough place. To be called Shirley he had to be. I understand he was loved by the country.

[@Dijahtal_Arts_Not_Digital_Arts]

I took my kids to bell bue in the late 70s to see the KN was my favourite but GH really was likeva giant!

[@Richiet316]

Never seen this before what a really nice guy

[@tonybilco1317]

Loved this guy my mum loved him more we watched wrestling every Saturday happy times ..a genuine gentlemen,a real life super hero,a super star!

[@peterleep4102]

Cheer up G.H. ,I hope that they were friends off set cos we all know wrestling is just for show.great edition though thanks for that

[@maxygb79]

Halifax boy, makes me proud to be from Yorkshire. What a lovely guy. Love this programme.

[@homer8029]

he was friends with jimmy savile though

[@aglockinmasock]

Lovin dat Yorkshire accent. We're all Yorkshire aren't we

[@homer8029]

@@aglockinmasock no

[@chrisfallon9678]

I am from East lancs( Burnley )but not too far afield .he was great Yorkshire lad !!

[@RSR423]

@@homer8029 Everybody knew Saville back then, doesn't mean they knew what a monster he was.

[@thomasrandell7007]

A really great guy who we saw in the wrestling ring and at Blackpool afterwards

[@rogertemple7313]

"I noticed that Giant Haystacks never smiled once on the show, didn't know if that was real or an act but British Wrestling was more believable than over here in the U.S. ,very good

[@MrIain73]

Roger Temple believe it our not mate Giant Haystacks was a Gentleman big daddy was entertment for the kids

[@PrideOfTorbay]

I noticed that when Shirley was surprised with the red book, Martin (Haystacks) was applauding. They were both Gents away from the ring.

[@michaelcityoldtimer3342]

Met haystacks in a petrol station where I worked he was a miserable get

[@rivertwygzbed543]

@@michaelcityoldtimer3342 what did he do?

[@soddof7972]

I think hes maintaining kayfabe - if you look at the start hes applauding harder than any other. Both understood the business better I guess than Eamonn

[@twt3716]

I remember as a kid picking up a copy of a tatty rag called TVTimes. There was a double page spread with a picture of what Big Dady eats in a day. Incredible. Two whole chickens. Four large baked potatos. Rice pasta meat veg more veg more meat and more pints. And repeat several times a day lol. A sporting legend the likes of which Americans can only dream of emulating lol. Love to you all.

[@Vtuberslovegod]

Big daddy is the greatest of the world

[@popeyedoyle2103]

brilliant stuff.. Halifax lad done great

[@chrisfallon9678]

I grew up watching world of sport wrestling watching this Shirley big daddy seemed a great chap would of loved to of met him 👍

[@baz810]

Thanks for posting this. This was beautiful nostalgia. I love how grateful and happy Big Daddy was to be 'caught'. World of Sport wrestling was always fun, even believable...unlike the rubbish from the USA

[@phil6844]

Believable 😂😂😂 that’s because you where watching it in 140p quality.

[@gordonm7038]

Great upload! EASY! EASY!

[@chriswardmusic]

Shirley Crabtree aka Big Daddy was my first hero in life, the ultimate good guy and the only man in the country that barred Paul Sykes from a nightclub.

[@graham2sexy955]

What a gent

[@Sol-Cutta]

This guy toured the country going to tiny towns appearing in school gyms and town halls..dedicated they were. Everyone got to see them live on a Saturday afternoon from their home or TV.

[@isaachunt5799]

reminds me of sunday nights and the fear of having school tomorrow. great times though. my ole dad loved this program.

[@MarmaladeStex]

R.I.P. to the Wrestling Legend!, although if this Geezer ever saw My Belly He'd have run a Mile!.

[@brianupton6847]

GREAT SHOW I F HAVE SEEN MANY TIMES

[@PhatTony-km3fl]

Many thanks for posting👍

[@cm1_g766]

Rip great uncle.

[@skippycampbell3782]

I loved Big Daddy.They don`t make wrestling like this anymore.

[@LordHeath1972]

23:17 Really glad Giant Haystacks had a chance to make a comment.

[@hairynews8348]

What a true champion

[@RexMundi_UTC]

Great upload, thank you

[@raymondfunnel6856]

R I P Shirley Crabtree aka Big Daddy well liked as a wrestler

[@chrischrisi98]

What a good man.....

[@denisesaunders3067]

Mr crabtree seemed a nice man.i saw him wrestle at a show in weardale county durham in about 1972 , there was another wrestler there too called masambula.

[@karenhill3161]

I was just thinking that

[@Youbarkimeow]

oh my goodness my mum used to love him

[@OnHollowGround]

This was awesome.

[@digginglancashire8847]

A true gentleman. Not false like todays lot.

[@chrismccartney8668]

I took young relatives to see Big Daddy at Local Town Hall he was superb he played to the audience and little kids what fun they had good clean fun. Seems another World !!!!

[@steve3716]

Used to love this...when I was younger my dad said to me when you go out make sure you stay away from the man with the red book...he is too nosey...

[@waynesmith4612]

What a guy, god rest his soul.......

[@fergallawlor5829]

Loved Saturday's wrestling back then

[@scorelineupdate129]

The world of spastic Wrestling

[@david-bs2ov]

HEY BBC , On behalf of a very large part of uk tv audience...... Come on do the decent thing.... listen to your viewers..... BRING back "This is your life"

[@mattbod]

I miss this time as well I grew up in the 80s: just seemed more innocent and fun. Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks are legends. Wrestling on ITV on Saturdays was always a good bit of entertainment

[@johncudworth2326]

Loved this is your life and the people who appeared especially The great big daddy a true legend .🤼

[@Ian-bk5xf]

Legend.....and one of our own,Halifax Lad.....R.I.P

[@teresacalladine7479]

I remember has a child watching the likes of Big Daddy and Giant Haystack years ago. Can't remember when , it was either late 1970"s or early 1980"s. And him them days it was all about wrestling and boxing and we loved it It's not like that now.

[@chrisinfidel]

Great man and his Nephew was one of the best Huddersfield Rugby League players of all time.

[@cdwattie]

they say haystacks was really a very nice man church on sunday. nothing like the guy in the ring. big daddy the man who hated kids but put up with them

[@fretboardmaster70]

Saturday Afternoons… Cup of Tea and Cheese and pickle Sandwiches with a generous helping of Wrestling on TV. Miss you Dad 💜💜

[@HappyFarmerHumprey]

This is my life

[@jacksugden8190]

I did look up Brian Crabtree some years ago, and did wonder whether he was still alive, have just looked him up again, and he’s alive, aged 86, well done Brian!.

[@davidgaston738]

a brilliant example of the coldstream guards second to none

[@thejoebaxi3940]

I Smiled all the way through that. Looked like he genuinely enjoyed every minute of that unlike some of the celebs they used to have on the show. . Heard he could be a bit of a diva behind the scenes though.

[@mortuaryartist]

His face. Bless him x

[@graham2sexy955]

❤️

[@nichhodge8503]

Big Daddy may have been crap in the ring and the total opposite to Dynamite Kid, Mark ‘Rollerball’ Rocco and Marty Jones who were 3 of the best wrestlers ever in the ring but they never got over with the crowd like Big Daddy. I heard William Regal talking to Stone Cold Steve Austin about Big Daddy and William Regal said “you will never understand just how much of a national treasure Big Daddy was”

[@garymcteer7620]

I find that people who were brought up in wartime were grateful and very polite, unlike the trash that walk our planet now 😡

[@harbster2]

So true. The country is full is scumbags these days. Can't trust anyone.

[@blackcountrywench6483]

true but they didn't have diversity in their days

[@Danny-kt8zg]

@@blackcountrywench6483Yes what a great dance group.

[@mythgreatbritain5634]

What a great fella !!!

[@bobnot.]

Legend

[@leejones2076]

Good days. ..

[@niadavies6418]

Great Guy.. a True Gentleman..

[@Akmedhussa]

The good old days,when wrestling didn't require athleticism and skill, When addition were done on a Saturday night down the pub!

[@Wheelstar72]

I so wish we had wrestling like this these days in t UK not wwe etc

[@harbster2]

What a genuinely lovely guy.

[@ianbentley7276]

indeed he did

[@keefsmiff]

Thought it was Ronnie Pickering on the thumbnail lol

[@andymatthews7617]

GREAT MEMORIES, WILL LIVE FOREVER.

[@moogdome2562]

Thank you. But what year?.

[@cryptohunt2552]

Kendo Nagasaki had hair back then.

[@johnnicholson5484]

I remember when he lived near me and knew his stepson Paul. A really nice bloke. He used to drive a mini. And everytime he got out it would raise on the suspension nearly a foot