Young Talent Time
| Company type | Television program production |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television entertainment |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Johnny Young, Kevin Lewis (Lewis-Young Productions) |
| Defunct | 1988 (original run) |
| Fate | Cancelled; revived briefly in 2012 |
| Successor | The New Generation (1988), Young Talent Time revival (2012) |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Johnny Young (host, producer), Rob Mills (2012 host) |
| Products | Television program, albums, film, merchandise |
| Owner | Lewis-Young Productions |
Young Talent Time was an Australian variety television program produced by Lewis-Young Productions and broadcast on Network Ten. The original run spanned from 1971 until 1988, with singer-songwriter and producer Johnny Young serving as host throughout. In 2012, Network Ten briefly brought the show back, this time hosted by singer and actor Rob Mills.
History
The program showcased a consistent ensemble of youthful performers called "The Young Talent Team," who delivered renditions of both timeless classics and current hits, accompanied by a weekly junior talent competition. This platform helped launch the careers of several notable Australian entertainers, including Sally Boyden, Jamie Redfern, Vikki Broughton, Debra Byrne (originally billed as Debbie), Tina Arena, and Dannii Minogue. Over its lifespan, the show produced fifteen albums, a feature film, and various merchandise items such as collectible cards, board games, toys, and mugs. It also earned numerous Logie Awards.
Production details
The series was created by Lewis-Young Productions, a collaboration between host Johnny Young and Kevin Lewis, a director affiliated with Festival Records. Most episodes were recorded at the ATV-10 studios located in Nunawading, Melbourne, with occasional tapings at TEN-10 in Sydney or on-site locations.
Due to Network Ten's tape wiping policy during the 1970s, many early episodes have been lost. Later broadcasts of the series were aired on Foxtel during the late 1990s. Approximately 44 episodes were produced each year for 18 years. The show was initially filmed in black and white until 1975, after which it transitioned to colour. The final episode was broadcast on 23 December 1988.
Caravan Holiday
Between the first and second seasons, Johnny Young and the Young Talent Team created a 22-minute colour film entitled Caravan Holiday, which was sponsored by the Caravan Trade & Industries Association. Completed in early 1972, it was screened nationwide as a supporting feature to the American comedy What's Up, Doc?.
The film featured the then-current members of the Young Talent Team—Jamie Redfern, Rod Kirkham, Greg Mills, Philip Gould, Julie Ryles, Debbie Byrne, Vikki Broughton, and Jane Scali—prior to Redfern embarking on his US tour with Liberace. Trevor Hindmarch, who had recently joined the team but did not appear in the film, attended its premiere. The cast also included actor and comedian Buster Fiddess portraying Mr Crawley, Addie Black, with guest appearances by Johnny Young (in several roles), Evie Hayes, and John Farnham (then known as Johnny Farnham).
A promotional music video for the team's rendition of The Cowsills' The Rain, The Park and Other Things was shot at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens; although Mills and Ryles appeared visually, they did not perform on the recording.
Caravan Holiday was televised once on Christmas Eve in 1972 but remained unseen for thirty years until its restoration was released as an extra feature on the 2002 DVD Young Talent Time: The Collection. It is worth noting that Jane Scali's surname was incorrectly spelled as Scarli in the opening credits.
Alumni
Between 1971 and 1988, Young Talent Time showcased a total of 40 performers. Among its distinguished former members who went on to achieve notable success in their entertainment careers are Tina Arena, Jane Scali, Dannii Minogue, Karen Knowles, Sally Boyden, and Debra Byrne. Typically, cast members were expected to depart once they reached the age of 16, although this guideline was sometimes waived.
Concerts and live appearances
Throughout its 18-year tenure, Johnny Young alongside the cast embarked on extensive tours across Australia, performing concerts and participating in promotional events. In 1973, they served as the supporting act for Jamie Redfern during sold-out performances at Melbourne’s Festival Hall.
A concert held at Westfield Parramatta in 1987 drew an audience exceeding 4,000 fans, which resulted in crowd management challenges and the event’s cancellation following injuries sustained by performers Joey Dee and Courtney Compagnino.
The subsequent year featured an outdoor show at Brisbane’s 1988 World Expo that attracted over 12,000 spectators and was broadcast nationwide. The final series of concerts concluded with a closing event at Melbourne Tennis Centre on 23 December 1988, coinciding with the program’s finale on Network Ten.
Luna Park incident
In the early 1970s, the cast performed at Luna Park Sydney where a large crowd obstructed their exit path. Although management offered to stop the scenic railway to ensure safe passage, the operator was not informed and did not halt the ride. Cast members narrowly avoided serious injury by pressing against the tunnel wall as the train sped past. Brad Boyden’s quick alert prevented a catastrophe; meanwhile, Trevor Hindmarch escaped injury when his jacket caught on the moving ride.
Final years
In 1988, Young Talent Time produced a two-hour special titled Young Talent Time at Universal Studios, which aired on 13 August. During its concluding years, the program faced declining ratings, especially after Nine Network scheduled Hey Hey It's Saturday in the same 6:30 pm timeslot from 1985, directly competing with Young Talent Time.
After four years of dwindling viewership, Network Ten moved YTT to Fridays at 7:30 pm in October 1988; however, this change failed to boost ratings. The series was cancelled three months later. On 25 January 1989, Renny Cunnack, general manager of Channel Ten Melbourne, announced that production would not resume that year; he was subsequently dismissed three months afterward. On Australia Day 1989, the cast performed at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Toward the end of 1988, creator Johnny Young made a significant investment in constructing a television studio complex in Richmond, Victoria, aiming to independently produce the show and lease it back to Channel Ten. The cancellation terminated these plans and forced Young to sell his family residence to settle debts.
Network Ten continued broadcasting compilation episodes into early 1989 under titles such as The Best of Young Talent Time and Young Talent Time Favorites, with the final broadcast occurring on 1 April 1989 in Melbourne.
To mark the program’s 50th anniversary, Channel Ten aired a special edition on 26 September 2021.
List of team members 1971–1988
- Vikki Broughton (1971–73) (first signed performer)
- Rod Kirkham (1971–73)
- Phillip Gould (1971–75; 1975–76)
- Debra Byrne (1971–75)
- Jamie Redfern (1971–72)
- Jane Scali (1971–76)
- Greg Mills (1971–75)
- Julie Ryles (1971–76)
- Trevor Hindmarch (1972–77)
- Sally Boyden (1973–76)
- Derek Redfern (1973–76)
- Karen Knowles (1975–80)
- Steven Zammit (1975–80)
- Debbie Hancock (1976–79)
- Robert McCullough (1976–79)
- Nicole Cooper (1976–81)
- John Bowles (1977–81)
- Tina Arena (1977–83; longest-serving cast member)
- Bobby Driessen (1979–83)
- Jodie Loebert (1980–83)
- Joe(y) Perrone (1980–84)
- Michael Campbell (1981–83)
- Karen Dunkerton (1981–85)
- Katie Van Ree (1981–86)
- Mark McCormack (1982–83)
- Danielle Minogue (1982–88)
- Vince Del Tito (1983–88)
- Beven Addinsall (1983–88)
- Vanessa Windsor (1983–87)
- Greg Poynton (1984–88)
- Lorena Novoa (1984–87)
- Tim Nelson (1984–87)
- Natalie Miller (1985–88)
- Mark Stevens (1985–88)
- Courtney Compagnino (1986–88)
- Juanita Coco (1987–88)
- Joey Dee (1987–88)
- Rikki Arnot (1987–88)
- Jamie Churchill (1988)
The New Generation (1988)
Johnny Young introduced an American adaptation called The New Generation in 1988. This version, produced in Australia, included senior members from the previous Young Talent Time ensemble—Dannii Minogue, Vince Del Tito, Natalie Miller, Lorena Novoa, Beven Addinsall—alongside new addition Keith Williams from Los Angeles. Younger alumni appeared as "The Young Generation."
Hosted by Michael Young, an American presenter recognized for the Emmy-winning show Kids Are People Too, the series consisted of thirteen half-hour episodes. Johnny Young's Television House collaborated with Fries Entertainment to produce these episodes, which aired on the CBN Cable Network/The CBN Family Channel, now known as Freeform, in the United States.
Young Talent Time (1990)
In 1990, Johnny Young independently financed a special titled Young Talent Time Now - 1990, released directly to video. This featured the last six cast members along with former participant Beven Addinsall.
Young Talent Time (2012)
A revival of Young Talent Time was produced through a partnership between Network Ten, Granada Australia, Johnny Young, and Johnny Young Music. Filmed before a live audience at Fox Studios Sydney, the 15-episode series premiered on Network Ten on 22 January 2012 and was hosted by Rob Mills, a former contestant on Australian Idol.
The show showcased a consistent group of ten young performers who delivered weekly ensemble performances. Initially, solo performances were highlighted but were replaced by duets starting from Episode 10. Each installment also featured three to four guest performers under sixteen years old across diverse disciplines such as singing, various dance styles—including ballet, hip hop, tap, and jazz—musical instruments, magic acts, and comedy. Weekly winners received $5,000 sponsored by NAB; the overall Grand Final winner was awarded $100,000.
Judging duties were undertaken by Tina Arena—the original program’s longest-standing cast member—and Charles "Chucky" Klapow, a Filipino-American Emmy-winning choreographer noted for his work on the High School Musical franchise and for choreographing performances by Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Ian Dickson served as a substitute judge during Arena’s absences and later assumed a full-time judging role during the finals.
Audience members voted online to select weekly runners-up who advanced as wild-card finalists. Due to disappointing Sunday night ratings competing against programs like The Biggest Loser, the show was rescheduled to Fridays at 7:30 pm. Following this change, the cast embarked on tours through Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra. The Grand Final took place on 4 May 2012; hip hop ensemble Lil' Banditz Krew won and toured alongside the cast.
Although ratings were insufficient to justify renewal for 2013, several participants went on to establish successful careers: Aydan Calafiore and Adrien Nookadu pursued musical paths; Georgia-May Davis joined Disney Channel Australia; Lyndall Wennekes appeared on The Voice in 2015; Nookadu competed on The X Factor in 2014; Calafiore participated in Australia's Got Talent in 2013 as well as multiple seasons of The Voice, finishing fourth in 2018 and competing in Eurovision - Australia Decides in 2019.
Team Members
- Aydan Calafiore
- Georgia-May Davis
- Nicolas Di Cecco
- Sean Emmett
- Tia Gigalotti
- Michelle Mutyora
- Adrien Nookadu
- Serena Suen
- Lyndall Wennekes
- Tyler Wilford
DVD Releases
On 29 October 2001, Network Ten broadcast a one-hour prime-time documentary titled Young Talent Time Tells All. Created and directed by former cast member John Bowles, this special commemorated the show's 30th anniversary and attracted high viewership. The documentary featured interviews with more than thirty original cast members, interspersed with archival footage—including rare clips—and personal recollections from the team.
In October 2003, a reunion involving cast and crew members such as Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, and Johnny Young led to the release of an expanded DVD edition called Young Talent Time: The Collection, distributed by Universal Pictures. This version included additional bonus materials and unseen footage beyond what was presented in the television special.
Among the DVD extras are a restored 1972 short film titled Caravan Holiday, starring Johnny Young alongside the team; detailed biographies of 40 team members plus Johnny Young; Nicole Kidman's guest segment promoting her 1983 movie BMX Bandits; commercials featuring various team members; footage of contestants; and a performance of "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" by sisters Dannii Minogue and Kylie Minogue.
Also featured is rare archival material showing nine-year-old Jamie Redfern with Happy Hammond during a 1968 Channel Seven color television test broadcast, which occurred seven years before color TV officially launched in Australia.
Albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||
| Young Talent Time |
|
- |
| Young Talent Time: Volume 2 |
|
- |
| Young Talent Time: Volume 3 (also known as Sing the Hits) |
|
50 |
| Young Talent Time: Volume 4 (credited to Johnny Young and the Young Talent Team) |
|
- |
| Young Talent Time: Favourite Hits - Volume 5 (credited to Johnny Young and the Young Talent Team) |
|
- |
| Johnny Young & The Young Talent Team: Mother's Favourites (credited to Johnny Young and the Young Talent Team) |
|
- |
| The Young Talent Team Salutes ABBA (credited to Johnny Young and the Young Talent Team) |
|
- |
| Tiny Tina and Little John (performed by Tina Arena & Johnny Bowles) |
|
- |
| Sing the Hits (credited to Johnny Young and the Young Talent Team) |
|
87 |
| Just for Fun (credited to Johnny Young and the Young Talent Team) |
|
- |
| 10th Anniversary Album |
|
58 |
| Now And Then 15th Anniversary Album |
|
93 |
| Young Talent Team: Phenomenon |
|
- |
| Super Hits 88/89 (credited to The New Young Talent Team) |
|
- |
| Johnny Young & The Young Talent Teams: The Final Farewell (credited to Johnny Young & The Young Talent Teams) |
|
- |
TV Week Logie Awards
- Best Australian Musical Variety Show: awarded in 1971, 1973, 1974, and 1975
- Award recognizing Sustained Excellence received in 1982
- Johnny Young inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 1990
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Network 10 original programming
- 1971 Australian television series debuts
- 1988 Australian television series endings
- 2012 Australian television series debuts
- 2012 Australian television series endings
- Australian music television series
- British English-language television shows
- Television series by ITV Studios
- Black-and-white Australian television shows
- Television shows set in Melbourne
- Australian television series revived after cancellation