- New Faces
-
For other uses, see New Faces (disambiguation).
New Faces Format Talent Show Starring Derek Hobson
(Original version)
Marti Caine (Revived version)Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series 6 (Original version)
3 (Revived version)No. of episodes 158 (Original version)
?? (Revived version)Production Producer(s) ATV
(29 September 1973 - 2 April 1978)
Central
(19 September 1986 - 3 December 1988)Running time 60 minutes
(including commercials)Broadcast Original channel ITV Picture format 4:3 Original run Original version:
29 September 1973 - 2 April 1978 –
Revived version:
19 September 1986 - 3 December 1988New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham. The show was noted for its theme tune, "You're a Star!", performed by singer Carl Wayne, formerly of The Move, and it was eventually released, becoming a minor hit.
Winners occasionally went on to greater success in television entertainment. Many top entertainers began their careers with a performance on this programme. The acts were evaluated by a panel of experts, including Clifford Davis, Ingrid Pitt, Mickie Most, Alan A. Freeman, Clive James, Muriel Young, Ted Ray, Ed Stewart, Jack Parnell, Arthur Askey, Noel Edmonds and Tony Hatch. Davis, Most and Hatch were especially notorious for being "hard" on contestants. Four judges would make up the panel each week. Tony Hatch made the headlines after one edition for giving a contestant whose act solely consisted of a repetitive and elementary 12 bar blues riff a score of zero. Hatch was deemed 'mean' for this.
Contestants received marks out of ten from the four judges in three categories such as "presentation", "content" and "star quality" - The "star quality" category was later replaced by "entertainment value". The highest score any act could attain was thus 120 points. Patti Boulaye was the only act who ever attained the maximum mark, doing so in the programme's final season. It was seen as a 'tougher' version of the long-running talent show Opportunity Knocks, also shown on ITV.
Whereas, Opportunity Knocks relied on public votes, New Faces had a panel that judged the acts - the act who had the highest total went through to the next round.
One winner, Marti Caine, returned to present the show when it was revived briefly in 1986 by Central Television. Her catchphrase was bellowed at the voting studio audience: "Press your buttons... NOW!". The show also featured a panel of experts including the journalist Nina Myskow, who often made critical comments. In this incarnation, the home audience decided who won by sending in postcards (phone voting was soon introduced by BBC rival Bob Says Opportunity Knocks), though, the audience did vote for its favourite act using a gigantic lightboard known as Spaghetti Junction lighting up to a varying degree as they pushed their buttons.
Contents
Famous winners & contestants
- Marti Caine
- Lenny Henry - Multiple wins.
- Michael Barrymore
- Dave Allen - In the original BBC series.
- Joe Pasquale - 2nd in 1987. Joe won his heat but he came second in the final.
- Roy Walker
- The Chuckle Brothers (1974)
- Malandra Burrows - 1974, youngest winner at 9 years old.
- Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
- Carline and Walling
- Victoria Wood
- Terry St. Clair - 1974. [1]
- Vinny Cadman
- Roger De Courcey and Nookie Bear - Winner of the 1976 Grand Final.
- Nicol and Marsh's Easy Street - Runners-up in 1976.
- Mick Miller
- Les Dennis
- Showaddywaddy
- Jim Davidson
- Gary Wilmot and Judy McPhee
- Billy Pearce
- Fivepenny Piece
- Aiden J Harvey
- Patti Boulaye - Appeared in the last 1970s edition of the show and was the only contestant ever to receive the maximum 120 points.
- Stevie Riks - Highest scoring contestant ever on the show.
- Max Bacon
- Jeff Hooper - Jeff won the 1974 series, with the highest recorded score, while only 14 years old. Jeff has become known as the best big band, swing and jazz singer of his generation and currently appears on the BBC "Strictly Come Dancing Tour" as well as touring the world with his band.
- Andy Cameron
- Sheer Elegance - Pop trio who went on to have two hit singles in 1976.
Other winners & contestants
- The Glentones - 20 piece High School youth big band playing music from the Glen Miller era.
- Charlie James - Female singer - Winner December 1973.
- Martin Berger
- Pete Price
- Dave Curtis (Vocalist)
- Son of a Gun
- M3 - 3 sisters, Maureen Stevens, Mary Stevens, Marilyn Stevens.
- Walker and Cadman
- Professor Steve Green - Pianist and Doctor. [2]
- David Gold - Vocalist.
- Jimmy Tamley - Beat Joe Pasquale.
- Crick's Canine Wonders
- Darren Stuart
- Frank Leyton
- Frank Yonco and Kit Connor
- Rabbit - Cabaret Band.
- Sandra Christie - Voice of Edith Piaf.
- The Libra Brothers
- Charlie James - Winner in December 1973.
Transmissions
Series Start date End date Episodes 1 29 September 1973 29 December 1973 2 6 April 1974 6 July 1974 3 21 September 1974 27 July 1975 4 20 December 1975 31 July 1976 5 11 September 1976 2 April 1977 6 10 September 1977 2 April 1978 7 19 September 1986 13 December 1986 8 4 September 1987 28 November 1987 9 10 September 1988 3 December 1988 External links
- New Faces at UKGameshows.com.
- Steve Cassidy - Steve Cassidy 3 times winner at www.stevecassidy.co.uk.
Categories:- 1970s British television series
- 1973 in British television
- 1973 television series debuts
- 1980s British television series
- 1988 British television programme endings
- ITV television programmes
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
