Young Talent Time revived
Young Talent Time is coming back to TV after 24 years. The TV program that shaped my life, and I’m sure, the life of many families, for over 20 years was the creation of host Mr Johnny Young. My daughter Donna was such a huge fan and wanted to sing and dance just like them, which was why she joined the Johnny Young Talent School in South Brisbane when she was 5 years old. Mr Johnny Young was a regular visitor at the School and also compered all the end of year Concerts. Young Talent Time ran on Channel 10 from 1971 until 1988, creating stars such as Danni Minogue, Tina Arena and Debra Byrne.
The TV series featured a core group of young performers in the vein of the Mickey Mouse Club and a weekly junior talent quest. The Young Talent Team regularly performed popular classics along with the top hit songs of the day. Presented and produced by Mr Johnny Young, the show was famed for closing each episode with a sing-along rendition of The Beatles song ‘All My Loving’. No, sadly Donna did not become famous, but she got to do what she loved for many years, and encouraged her little sister Bianca to do the same, later at the Conroy Dance Centre. Bianca was very fortunate to be able to work on stage alongside ex Young Talent Team members Jane Scali and Philip Gould as orphan “Kate”, in the Musical “Annie” when it played at the Lyric Theatre in 2001.
It has been confirmed that Australian idol finalist and music theatre star Rob Mills will be the host of Channel 10’s revival of the Young Talent Time series. Mr Young will be a co-producer and the network said it would be a ‘‘contemporary take’’ on the original.
Rob Mills (affectionally known as “Millsy”) was a finalist in 2003 Australian Idol series and landed the role of Fiyero for the Australian Premiere of Stephen Schwartz’s blockbuster musical, Wicked. Most recently, Mills appeared opposite Marika Aubrey in Jason Robert Brown’s one act musical The Last Five Years at the Seymour Centre, Sydney.
Will the new series end with Millsy singing ‘All My Loving’ or will the show find a new anthem?
Yours in Young Talent Time
Angie Rapisarda
