Opportunity Knocks
 The
show that put amateur mediocrity on the British TV screen more
than any other.
Between 1956 and 1977 it produced acts of the calibre of Bobby
Crush, Bonnie Langford, Peters
and Lee, the singing miners Millican and Nesbitt, Neil Reid
and Lena Zavaroni.
Out of the thousands of acts auditioned, only a handful really
proved bearable - like Les Dawson, Freddie Starr, Frank Carson,
Ken Goodwin, Little and Large, Freddie Davies and Mary
Hopkin.
Nevertheless, Opportunity Knocks fulfilled a vital role
in bringing new artists to television.
The show was primarily a showcase for the indefatigable Hughie
Green, who meant everything "most sincerely, friends".
One of the first contestants was buxom Gladys Brocklehurst, a
Lancashire cotton-mill girl who, while singing her number, used to
grab husband Norman by the hair and slap him. When asked about her
unusual act, mad Glad replied "we do this for the fun of
it".
 Su
Pollard was beaten by a singing dog, and after winning at the age
of six, Bonnie Langford was unable to appear for the second week
as she had to appear in concert at her mother's dancing school.
One act that didn't pass the shows auditions was a singer
called Gerry Dorsey.
He later changed his name and went on to
bigger and better things as Engelbert
Humperdinck . . .
Whatever its faults, Opportunity Knocks was not a cruel
show, and genuinely cared for the acts - a point illustrated by
the story of James Conaghan, an Irishman who played the ivy leaf
by placing it between his fingers and blowing it.
When he flew over for the show, his leaves shrivelled up under
the studio lights rendering them musically useless.
He rushed off to a Manchester park but found that he couldn't
get a note out of English ivy leaves.
Not to be denied this feast of entertainment, Hughie Green
arranged for a dozen Irish ivy leaves to be flown in specially
from Dublin and James was able to enjoy his fleeting moment of
fame.
 The show was revived in the 80s with Bob
Monkhouse.
Following
Hughie Green's death from cancer, it was revealed (at his funeral,
no less) that he was in fact the real father of Paula Yates.
He had apparently had an affair with the wife of former Stars
On Sunday presenter Jess Yates (who had always believed he
was Paula's father).
The voting address was:
Opportunity Knocks,
Thames Television,
Teddington Lock,
Middlesex TW11 9NT
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