The past really is another country. Some of this makes me wince now, but it reflects the values of the time, and it’s a reminder of a side of British culture that is now pretty much gone following the decline of the industrial working class and the WMC circuit. A lot of these acts had no aspiration to “express themselves”, or be “artists” or “share their journey”, they were jobbing entertainers who wanted to get themselves on the telly and have a go at taking things to the next level. I went out with a girl in about 1980 whose dad was a singer in a group who did the clubs, and he was constantly mining the charts and TOTP for new material. He had a day job and working the clubs was something he loved doing. I don’t think he ever though twice about writing his own material because that wasn’t why he was doing it. I’m over-educated and I now have “poncy” middle class tastes that are a million miles away from this, but I’d take this over the modern Simon Cowell talent shows any day of the week - as a reminder of where I come from and the forgotten performers who entertained my mam and dad’s generation.
That's good to hear Mark. I was lucky to be able to make a good living from working the clubs and holiday resorts up and down the country, even though we didn't do well on New Faces. It is sad that the working men's club circuit has collapsed, but then the Music Halls suffered the same fate and no doubt many other forms of recreation went the same way before that. And yes it's frustrating that Simon Cowell has Britain's talent all stitched up. His shows really are more about the judges than the artists.
I remember this also because of Jack Parnell's comments about guitar playing which were totally wrong the flamenco guitatist was great and his guitar playing was VERY real.
I remember that the panel were instructed to mark everyone down that week, so that the only person to get over 100 points would be the winner. The reason was that the following week they would broadcast the Ton- Up show and they didn't want any more acts for that show. The guitarist deserved more, yes.
I remember New faces on Saturday the 10 December 1976 when I'm a little kid but what happened to Derek hobson his still alive his used to presenting ATV today from 1975 to 1978 when his taken over by young Bob warman
As far as I know, he's still alive Brian, and doing after dinner speeches and things like that. Apparently he's 71, lives in Essex and is writing a book.
@@davidburton-richardson9516 Stewart Jason.. He was a Scottish singer. Milandra Newman Won the studio vote but the public were outraged and they voted him as winner. She was a 9 year old telling a poem. She went on to play Kathy in Emerdale. Terrible actress.
THIS WAS A BENT SHOW THEN, AND COWELLS CARRIED ON FROM THERE, ITS STILL BENT, AND THE AGENTS GAVE BUNGS TO THIS LOT, TO GET THEYRE ACTS ON THE SHOW, AND THEY ARE ALL BENT, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO GOT SHAFTED WERE THE ACTS AND THE PUBLIC.
Aye, we certainly didn't please him, though I must admit he was quite gentle in his criticism of us. It 's weird to think most of them are dead now. Derek Hobson is still alive and kicking, though I'm not sure about John Smith.
They made many many productions back in the day: Boon Series 1 to 3, Sapphire and Steel, Crossroads - obviously, Blockbusters and Spitting Image to name just a few. They made a few films too, as Central TV films.
@@karlbarlow I was thinking that it came from Studio 1 at Birmingham. I guess the same place the likes of The Golden Shot came from as well, Same goes for Studio 3, most viewers knew it as the home of Tiswas but additionally it was the home of the regional news as well during the week!
Hi Mistofoles you're right, the plectrum is used to pluck the strings. The capo, that they're on about, goes on the neck to hold the strings down, if the guitarist wants to change the key and make the chords easier to play.
He worked for TVS and TSW as a presenter till 1988. He seems to have fallen off the TV radar and I think joined the many ex-celebrities on the after dinner speaker circuit.
It was through the Maori Singers that enabled a member of 5-A-Side to get the video from the producer Albert Stevenson and then kindly pass it on to me.
Always loved "Sky High " 💘 That comedian Nicky Gunn should be done under the trades description act...how the hell did he get on there?! I've had infected wisdom teeth that made me laugh more...yet they were "amused"... got to be rigged as he was bloody abysmal and by far the worst act there 😖😬 Telling even from the 70s I never heard of him. Its a "no" from me and a "gerroff" from everyone else with a sense of humour Dave Mandel (?)... awesome job. As a guitarist I know how hard it is to do that and how many hours of work and practice you have to do to be that great and sound like three guitars and a drum at once. In fact all the others were good. It definitely comes across as rigged 🤨
The only thing I was aware of being rigged was the fact that everyone in the show got below 100 points apart from the winner Nicky Gunn. The reason could have been that the "Ton Up" show was being aired the following week and they'd probably already scripted and chosen acts for that.
@@ericarobinson3289 Hi Erica, I'm sorry I don't have that. This is the only show I'd managed to obtain. There is someone (Mark Wilson) lower down in the comments section here, who is putting together an archive of New Faces material. He may be able to help you. Good luck
Always loved "Sky High " 💘 That comedian Nicky Gunn should be done under the trades description act...how the hell did he get on there?! I've had infected wisdom teeth that made me laugh more...yet they were "amused"... got to be rigged as he was bloody abysmal and by far the worst act there 😖😬 Telling even from the 70s I never heard of him. Its a "no" from me and a "gerroff" from everyone else with a sense of humour Dave Mandel (?)... awesome job. As a guitarist I know how hard it is to do that and how many hours of work and practice you have to do to be that great and sound like three guitars and a drum at once. In fact all the others were good. It definitely comes across as rigged 🤨
You only get one chance to impress, and it’s less risky to go with a familiar, catchy, and fairly recent song. They’re there to be judged as performers, not songwriters. 5-a-side, I guess, came through the clubs and were probably a show-band first and foremost at that stage in their career- and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Blimey what a load of rubbish...I watched the 80s version and this was no better...all these talent shows including opportunity knocks were abysmal...I wouldn't normally say this but for once...thank goodness Punk came along...... you now can understand why they had a go at the establishment... mickey most was spot on if he thought they lacked tallent... I have never watched any of the pop idol nonsense and its ilk... Jim Davidson or Lenny Henry could not fail looking back..whilst this rubbish was on, BBC 1 had DR Who with Tom Baker on and pulled better viewing figures ...